2 Samuel 21:2

“And the king called the Gibeonites, etc.] Sent messengers unto them, and summoned them to come to him, and said unto them; what is expressed in (<102103>2 Samuel 21:3); for what follows is in a parenthesis: (now the Gibeonites [were] not of the children of Israel; originally, though they were proselyted to the Jewish religion, and were employed in the menial services of the sanctuary: but of the remnant of the Amorites; they were the remains of the old Canaanites, who sometimes in general were called Amorites, otherwise the Gibeonites were called Hivites; (see <060907>Joshua 9:7 11:19); and the children of Israel had sworn unto them; by their princes, as Joshua; yet, and Saul, contrary to…”

“in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah--Under pretense of a rigorous and faithful execution of the divine law regarding the extermination of the Canaanites, he set himself to expel or destroy those whom Joshua had been deceived into sparing. His real object seems to have been, that the possessions of the Gibeonites, being forfeited to the crown, might be divided among his own people (compare Sa1 22:7). At all events, his proceeding against this people was in violation of a solemn oath, and involving national guilt. The famine was, in the wise and just retribution of Providence, made a national punishment, since the Hebrews either assisted in the massacre, or did not interpose to…”

“The way in which the writer here refers to the history of the league with the Gibeonites Joshua 9:0 shows that the Book of Joshua was not a part of the same work as the Books of Samuel. Of the Amorites - The Gibeonites were Hivites Joshua 9:7; Joshua 11:19; and in many enumerations of the Canaanite nations the Hivites are distinguished from the Amorites. But “Amorite” is often used in a more comprehensive sense, equivalent to “Canaanite” (as Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 1:27), and denoting especially that part of the Canaanite nation which dwelt in the hill country Numbers 13:29; Deuteronomy 1:7, Deuteronomy 1:20, Deuteronomy 1:24, and so includes the Hivites. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Sought - That is, he sought how he might cut them off with some colour of justice, aggravating their faults, and punishing them worse than they deserved; oppressing them with excessive labours, and intending by degrees to wear them out. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 21:6”

“21:2 Though the Amorites were a specific people group (Gen 10:16), here it is a general term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan. • When properly directed, zeal is commendable (e.g., Num 25:11; 1 Kgs 19:10). Saul’s misdirected zeal, however, involved blatant disregard for Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites.”

“now the: Josh. 9:3-21 the Amorites: The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from Jos 6:19; but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general. Gen 15:16 in his zeal: Deu 7:16; Sa1 14:44, Sa1 15:8, Sa1 15:9; Kg2 10:16, Kg2 10:31; Luk 9:54, Luk 9:55; Joh 16:2; Rom 10:2; Gal 4:17 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 21:3”