21:1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the Lord. 1 The Lord said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, 2 because he murdered the Gibeonites.”
21:2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to 3 them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.) 21:3 David said to the Gibeonites, “What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless 4 the Lord’s inheritance?”
21:4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We 5 have no claim to silver or gold from Saul or from his family, 6 nor would we be justified in putting to death anyone in Israel.” David asked, 7 “What then are you asking me to do for you?”