2 Samuel

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NASB	2 Samuel 21:7 ¶ But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David and Saul's son Jonathan.
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	2 Samuel 21:7 ¶ But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between David and Saul's son Jonathan.

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Bible Question: I'm studing and teaching thru 2 Sam. In chapter 21 there is a situation where the Israelite are going thru a 3 year drought. David inquires of God about it and God tells him the drought is because of Saul's sin. He broke the oath that was made to the Gibeonites in Joshua 9 by trying to kill them. The restitution is the life of 7 of Saul's family. 2 of Saul's children and 5 grandchildren.

My question is 2 fold because the actions that take place here seem to contrdict Several of God's commandments.

question 1 - I know the Bible says sin will be passed down to your children and your childrens, children but in Deut 24:16 it says
"Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin.
So why did this happen or am I missing an exception here because we are dealing with a broken oath?

2 They were hanged. Again in Duet. it says he who hangs on a tree a accursed by God and that they should be brought down and buried the same day. These 7 who were executed were left up until it reigned. It seems that rain was obviously the sign that Saul's sin had been dealt with but I missing something because I don't know why they would have been left up there to hang?

Bible Answer:

I believe this is a prophetic statement pointing to the salvation of Christ... the day of the Lord when each will stand for his own sins done in the body

Col. 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

God is a Covenant God... keeping Covenant even when man forsakes and forgets the words he has vowed... even unto the generations that come after... Saul broke a vow made to the Gibeonites... they tricked the Israelites into making the covenant using deceit. God still held them accountable to the words of the their mouth.
This speaks very clearly to the false notion we have heard today about the ease of laying aside our vows that we made foolishly.

Eccles. 5:1-7
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. [2] Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. [3] For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. [4] When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. [5] Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. [6] Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? [7] For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

When we enter a Covenant with God... he is our defense... fights our battles for us. The Gibeanites were in Covenant with God’s people... but they failed to protect them under Saul’s reign. God therefore avenged their blood with the blood of Saul’s sons.

Note though that the son’s of Jonathan were under a greater Covenant of protection... they were not killed.

2 Samuel 21:7 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.

Rizpah however did not have a covenant... and could only plead the mercies of David. How clear of a warning that we may receive mercy but the Covenant holds more sure promises.

Do we want the decent burial when we die or do we want a covenant promise of salvation?

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2 Samuel

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