2 Samuel 21:8-22:8

8But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and Septuagint manuscripts Michal whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

9He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the LORD . All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning. 10Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)

13David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

Wars Against the Philistines 15Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David.

17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”

18In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

19In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-Oregim. the Bethlehemite killed the brother of See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew does not have the brother of. Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 20In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.

21When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him. 22These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

David’s Song of Praise 1David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

2He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield Or sovereign and the horn Horn here symbolizes strength. of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.

4“I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.

5The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

6The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

7“In my distress I called to the LORD ; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

8The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens Hebrew; Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.