1During the days of David, there was a famine for three years, year after year. David sought the presence of the Lord, and the Lord said, "It concerns Saul and his house, who are guilty of bloodshed, for he killed the Gibeonites."
2So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn an oath to them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for Israel and Judah.)
3David asked the Gibeonites, "What can I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you may bless the Lord’s inheritance?"
4The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death." David asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
5They replied to the king, "The man who destroyed us and planned to exterminate us so that we would have no place anywhere in Israel—
6let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us to be executed before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the Lord’s chosen one." The king said, "I will give them to you."