2 Samuel 21:7,8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

The king spared, &c. For the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, it was at David's choice whom to spare. The son of Jonathan This is added to distinguish him from the other Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 21:8. Because of the Lord's oath, &c. This was a just reason for not delivering him up. The five sons of Michal, whom she brought up for Adriel In the original it is, whom she bare to Adriel. And as Michal was not the wife of Adriel, but her elder sister Merab, it is probable that Michal's name has here crept into the text by the mistake of some transcriber for Merab's. Or else it should stand as the margin of our Bible has it, Michal's sister.

2 Samuel 21:7-8

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 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 Michalc the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: