CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES—
2 Samuel 21:10. “Until water dropped,” etc. The early rain usually began in October. But rain may have been sent earlier as a token of forgiveness. The reason of the bodies being left unburied, contrary to Deuteronomy 21:23, probably was that the death of these men being the expiation of a violated oath they were to remain until the fall of rain should give the assurance that God’s anger was appeased and the national sin forgiven.” (Biblical Commentary.)
2 Samuel 21:14. “And the bones,” etc. Although not expressly stated, it is implied that the remains of the crucified men were interred at the same time and place, if not actually in the same tomb. “Zelah.” The situation of this city is unknown.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 2 Samuel 21:10-14
RIZPAH AND DAVID
I. Deep affliction often brings forth a nobility of character which would otherwise remain latent. It is not likely that Rizpah showed herself to be in any respect a remarkable woman before this great bereavement. She manifested probably no exceptional amount of affection for her children, and is hardly likely to have herself sounded the depths of her maternal love. But when plunged into this deep sorrow she revealed a self-sacrificing devotion, which lifted her at once far above the level of ordinary humanity. The death of her children awakened within her a noble heroism which would in all probability have lain dormant under less trying circumstances. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Men and women who seem very commonplace while no special demand is made upon their better nature, often rise into true heroes and heroines in the day of extraordinary trial, when the emotional side of their nature is called upon to assert itself.
II. Such nobility of character forms a common meeting ground for those otherwise widely sundered. There was little in common between David and Saul’s concubine. The king had scarcely before this felt any interest, much less admiration, for Rizpah. But being himself a noble man and capable of great self-devotion, this display of deep love and grief bridged over, for a time at least, the gulf that had hitherto divided them. Men are not unfrequently surprised into the discovery that some, from whom in all other respects they are as widely sundered as the poles, are one with them in deep and noble emotion which breaks down the wall of partition raised by opposing interests and differing circumstances. The father who mourned for Absalom as David did could not fail to be touched by such sorrow as Rizpah’s, and for the moment we may well believe their common humanity made them forget all past differences.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
It must be borne in mind that the famine did not cease with the hanging of the sons of Saul.… For three long months the bereaved daughter of Aiah held her watch.… But still the Lord was not entreated for the land.… But though private piety is all too weak to avert God’s judgments on a guilty nation, it is of force to draw down from heaven a private blessing, and is never wholly unavailing. Deep, we may well believe, were the communings which Rizpah held with God in her awful loneliness, and fervent her supplications.… And David, moved by her affecting piety, buried the bones of her sons with those of Saul and Jonathan … and after that, God was entreated for the land.… Both the infliction and removal of this scourge of famine afford a striking proof how deeply the well-being and happiness of nations may be affected by the personal character of their rulers, and consequently, what just reason we have to attend to the Apostle’s exhortation. (1 Timothy 2:2.)—T. H. L., Dean of Exeter.