2 Samuel 21:14
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Notice how the narrative pivots from the king's obedience to God's response. It's not just about burying bones; it's about a king acting with solemnity and respect, and in doing so, honoring God, which then opens the door for God to hear the cries of the land.
And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And after that God responded to the plea for the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a severe famine and a plague brought on by Saul's mistreatment of the Gibeonites, David seeks to make amends. He retrieves the bones of Saul and his sons, who had been executed by the Gibeonites, and, as requested, buries them with Saul's father. This act of justice and restoration is what finally leads to God relenting and the land being healed.
Have you ever seen a wrong go uncorrected, leaving a lingering unease? This passage reveals a powerful connection between earthly justice and divine response.
The story leading up to this verse is grim: King Saul, in his later years, had disregarded God's command to destroy the Amalekites, even showing them mercy. This disobedience led to a devastating famine in the land.
God revealed to David that the famine was a consequence of Saul's sin and, more specifically, the mistreatment of the Gibeonites, whom Saul had wronged. The Gibeonites demanded justice, not by personal revenge, but by executing seven of Saul's sons. This act, though harsh, was about restoring a broken covenant and appeasing divine wrath for Saul's transgression.
This verse marks the completion of that necessary, albeit difficult, act of justice. The bones of Saul and Jonathan, who had died before this purging could happen, were finally laid to rest in their ancestral tomb. This wasn't just a burial; it was the restoration of honor and the final step in rectifying Saul's sin and appeasing the divine judgment that had gripped the land.
It's easy to think God only responds when things are perfect. But what if His response is often found after we deal with the messy realities of sin and its consequences?
The crucial phrase here is: 'And after that God responded to the plea for the land.' This isn't just about the famine ending. It signifies a broader shift from divine displeasure to divine favor.
From Famine to Fulfillment
The famine was a tangible manifestation of God's judgment stemming from Saul's disobedience and the wrongs done to the Gibeonites. By executing Saul's sons as requested by the Gibeonites, David and the people took action to address the sin that had cursed the land. This act of justice, fulfilling God's earlier pronouncements through the prophet Samuel (though not explicitly mentioned here, it's the context), cleared the way for God's favor to return.
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God Hears and Acts
God's response wasn't automatic but came after the difficult work of justice was done. This highlights a key theological truth: God is concerned with righteousness and justice. When His people (or their leaders) take steps to uphold these, even through painful means, God is moved to hear their pleas and restore His blessing. The land, which had been unproductive and cursed, could now flourish again under God's renewed favor.
Understand the original words
qeber · Hebrew Noun
A place of interment; throughout Scripture, the tomb represents the finality of physical life and serves as a significant site of memory, genealogy, and the hope of future resurrection.
athar · Hebrew Verb
A formal request, petition, or prayer directed toward God, often arising from a state of crisis, distress, or need, seeking divine intervention or mercy.
The burial of Saul and Jonathan marks the closing of a painful chapter, allowing David to address the lingering injustice that was causing the famine.
c. 1010 BC
Saul and Jonathan Die in Battle
King Saul and his son Jonathan are killed fighting the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, a tragic end to Saul's reign.
c. 1010-1003 BC
Saul's Body Desecrated
The Philistines display the bodies of Saul and Jonathan on the walls of Beth-shan, a shocking act of desecration.
c. 1010 BC
Brave Rescue of the Bodies
Valiant men from Jabesh Gilead risk their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons from Beth-shan.
c. 1003 BC
David Becomes King of All Israel
After years as king of Judah, David is finally recognized as king over the entire united kingdom of Israel.
c. 1003 BC
A Severe Famine Strikes the Land
The land of Israel suffers under a devastating three-year famine, causing immense hardship and distress.
c. 1003 BC
David Inquires About the Famine
David seeks the Lord to understand the cause of the prolonged famine, asking, "As for the famine, why has it come upon the land?"
c. 1003 BC— this verse
The Gibeonites Seek Justice
The Gibeonites, descendants of the Amorites whom Saul had tried to exterminate, approach David to avenge their people.
This passage describes the immediate aftermath of Saul and Jonathan's death, detailing the honorable actions taken by the men of Jabesh-Gilead to retrieve and burn their bodies, showing the respect given even in death.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14This parallel account reiterates the tragic end of Saul and his sons, emphasizing that their death was a consequence of Saul's unfaithfulness to the Lord, which directly led to God not seeking His counsel.
Joshua 7:1This passage provides a strong parallel to the curse and subsequent drought that befell Israel due to Achan's sin, highlighting how unaddressed sin and disobedience can bring divine displeasure and widespread calamity upon the community.
Leviticus 26:14-17This passage outlines God's covenantal curses for disobedience, which include sending terror, wasting disease, and enemies, mirroring the spiritual distress and hardship Israel faced that was only resolved after the sin was dealt with.
Notice how the narrative pivots from the king's obedience to God's response. It's not just about burying bones; it's about a king acting with solemnity and respect, and in doing so, honoring God, which then opens the door for God to hear the cries of the land.
Following a severe famine and a plague brought on by Saul's mistreatment of the Gibeonites, David seeks to make amends. He retrieves the bones of Saul and his sons, who had been executed by the Gibeonites, and, as requested, buries them with Saul's father. This act of justice and restoration is what finally leads to God relenting and the land being healed.
Following a severe famine and a plague brought on by Saul's mistreatment of the Gibeonites, David seeks to make amends. He retrieves the bones of Saul and his sons, who had been executed by the Gibeonites, and, as requested, buries them with Saul's father. This act of justice and restoration is what finally leads to God relenting and the land being healed.
"And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And after that God responded to the plea for the land." — Notice how the narrative pivots from the king's obedience to God's response. It's not just about burying bones; it's about a king acting with solemnity and respect, and in doing so, honoring God, whi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
