Why does the Bible say David spared Mephibosheth then offered him to the Gibeonites to be killed?
In verse 7 we read that David "spared" Mephibosheth from the Gibeonites, then in verse 8 we read he delivered him (along with 6 others) into the hands of the Gibeonites to be hanged.
2 Samuel 21:7 - 8
NKJV - 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
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Asked March 06 2014
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Karen Potts
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Jill Metz
Supporter
There were two different men named Mephibosheth. One was the son of Jonathan, son of Saul. The other was the son of Saul and Rizpah. David gave seven sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to atone for Saul's annihilation of the city of Nob (1 Samuel 22) because the priest of that city had aided David. David did not violate his oath to Jonathan.
Brian Stewart
Supporter
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 2Sam 21:8 KJV The Mephibosheth in this verse is not the same man that was lame and sat at the kings table. The one who was hung was the son of Saul. The Mephibosheth that sat in Davids house was the son of Jonathan.
John Hodge
Supporter
It can be confusing, but closely read, the Bible tells of two Mephibosheths in II Samuel, one being the son of Jonathan and the other the son of Saul. It was the son of Saul that was delivered to the Gibeonites to be put to death.
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