Verse 2

So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them.(Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

Referenced Verses

  • Gen 15:16 : 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”
  • Deut 7:16 : 16 Exhortation to Destroy Canaanite Paganism You must destroy all the people whom the LORD your God is about to deliver over to you; you must not pity them or worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
  • Josh 9:3-9 : 3 When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, 4 they did something clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. 5 They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread was dry and hard. 6 They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel,“We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us.” 7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites,“Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?” 8 But they said to Joshua,“We are willing to be your subjects.” So Joshua said to them,“Who are you and where do you come from?” 9 They told him,“Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the LORD your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt 10 and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan– King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. 11 Our leaders and all who live in our land told us,‘Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them,“We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard. 13 These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey.” 14 The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the LORD’s advice. 15 Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath. 16 Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities– Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 18 The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders, 19 but all the leaders told the whole community,“We swore an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. So now we can’t hurt them! 20 We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them.” 21 The leaders then added,“Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.
  • 1 Sam 14:44 : 44 Saul said,“God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn’t die!”
  • 1 Sam 15:8-9 : 8 He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag’s people with the sword. 9 However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless.
  • 2 Kgs 10:16 : 16 Jehu said,“Come with me and see how zealous I am for the LORD’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot.
  • 2 Kgs 10:31 : 31 But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the LORD God of Israel. He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.
  • Luke 9:54-55 : 54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said,“Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
  • John 16:2 : 2 They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
  • Rom 10:2 : 2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.
  • Gal 4:17 : 17 They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.