"During David's reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death. (The people of Gibeon were not Israelites; they were a small group of Amorites whom the Israelites had promised to protect, but Saul had tried to destroy them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.) So David summoned the people of Gibeon and said to them, “What can I do for you? I want to make up for the wrong that was done to you, so that you will bless the Lord's people.” They answered, “Our quarrel with Saul and his family can't be settled with silver or gold, nor do we want to kill any Israelite.” David asked, “What, then, do you think I should do for you?” They answered, “Saul wanted to destroy us and leave none of us alive anywhere in Israel. So hand over seven of his male descendants, and we will hang them before the Lord at Gibeah, the town of Saul, the Lord's chosen king.” “I will hand them over,” the king answered" (2 Samuel 21:1-6).
A crime of genocide was committed against the Gibeonites. It was by no less a person than Saul, the king of Israel. According to the scripture, the Israelites were commanded to destroy all inhabitants of Canaan. But the Gibeonites tricked Joshua and Israelite leaders into making a solemn covenant of peace with them. The Israelites agreed, “We must let them live (with us) because of our promise; if we don't, God will punish us” (Joshua 9:20). But Saul, during his inglorious reign as king, started a campaign of terror, persecution and genocide against the Gibeonites tribe. This provoked the anger of the LORD, the covenant keeping God. Three years of severe famine ravaged the land of Israel as punishment. (In the scriptures famine, wars, outbreak of diseases (epidemic or pandemic), natural disasters, are usually presented as signs of God’s anger upon the people).
David, a righteous and God fearing leader, decided to enquire from the Lord, why the country was experiencing such difficult times. It always gladdens the heart of God when anyone humbles himself and seeks his wise counsel. It is even more gladdening if it is from leaders! And the Lord said to David, “Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death.” In other words, the king had violated the covenant of peace and mutual co-existence Israelites entered into, in the Holy Name of God, with the Gibeonites! How can this be remedied? What is the option left for peace and genuine reconciliation? David summoned the Gibeonites for a meeting. A victim will always ask for justice! Vengeance is in his heart. And that exactly was what the Gibeonites asked for. “Hand over seven of his male descendants, and we will hang them!” What a tragic demand!
How many sons did Saul have? Six sons: Jonathan, Ishbosheth, Malchishua, Abinadab, Armoni, and Mephibosheth. Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua, together with their father, Saul, were killed in battle! (1 Sam. 31:2-4). Ishbhosheth was murdered in cold blood by two of his military captains, Rechab and Baanah (2 Sam.4:5-6). Almost the entire family is gone! So where is David going to get “seven male descendants” of Saul? Saul had two daughters, Merab and Michal, David’s wife. Merab had five sons born to her husband. So David took all of them, joined them with Armoni and Mephiboshet (two of the sons of Saul left), and handed them over to the Gibeonites to be executed! The entire descendants of Saul were wiped out from the face of the earth! Why? Because Saul mismanaged his opportunity in power, big time!
When a leader becomes sectional, parochial, and discriminatory, he pursues agenda that are inimical to the common good. His people will find it difficult to unite to achieve an uncommon national goal. Recrimination, intolerance, hatred, divide-and-rule, unprovoked attacks and killings become the order of the day. This was the kind of unhealthy political atmosphere king Saul foisted upon the nation of Israel. And God did not take it kindly.
What lessons are we to learn from all this? Because, “everything that was written in the past was written to teach us” (1 Cor.10:11). Be careful what you do with your position of authority. Because there is always a pay back time! Be careful what you do today. Be careful the type of seed you sow. Because one day, it will germinate and grow. And you will have to reap it. Either you reap it personally alive, or someone else reaps it for you! Evil that men do, lives with them, both here now and hereafter; unless you start deliberate, conscious and practical efforts at making reparations and atonement, just now!
Peace be with you.
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