2 Samuel 21 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 21:5, MT 21:11
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
2 Samuel 21
Famine, broken faith, and the burden of bloodshed
Editorial Christian reading in the royal history [NT1]. The execution and Rizpah’s vigil retain their severe narrative force; the passage’s disputed ethics are not resolved by a heading.
21:1–9 | The inquiry and the Gibeonites’ demand
Verse MT 21:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:1
There was a famine in David’s days for three years, year after year. David sought YHWH’s face. YHWH said, “It is because of Saul and the house of bloodshed, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:1
There was a famine in David’s days for three years, year after year. David sought the Lord’s face. The Lord said, “Injustice rests upon Saul and his house because of his bloody killing, in that he put the Gibeonites to death.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly names injustice and has a compressed death-and-blood clause, provisionally construed as bloody killing. Hebrew has the house of bloodshed. Both link the famine with the Gibeonites’ deaths; the Hebrew divine reply after a paragraph break is retained.
Verse MT 21:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:2
The king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. The Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn an oath to them, yet Saul sought to strike them down in his zeal for Israel and Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:2
King David called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. The Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn an oath to them, yet Saul sought to strike them down in his zeal for Israel and Judah.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek adds David. Both preserve the oath and the attack motivated by zeal. The oath recalls Joshua 9; the narrative does not commend Saul’s breach of it.
Verse MT 21:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:3
David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? With what shall I make atonement, so that you bless YHWH’s inheritance?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:3
David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? With what shall I make atonement, so that you bless the Lord’s inheritance?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both preserve atonement and blessing language in David’s question. The question itself does not yet name a remedy.
Verse MT 21:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:4
The Gibeonites said to him, “We have no claim for silver or gold against Saul or his house, nor have we anyone in Israel to put to death.” He said, “What do you say I should do for you?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:4
The Gibeonites said to him, “We have no claim for silver or gold against Saul or his house, nor have we anyone in Israel to put to death.” He said, “What do you say I should do for you?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Claim supplies the contextual force of having no silver or gold with Saul. Hebrew follows qere we rather than written I [R21]. The second clause remains general, with its relation to the following demand left for interpretation rather than altered by an added legal explanation.
Verse MT 21:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:5
They said to the king, “The man who consumed us and plotted against us, so that we should be destroyed from remaining anywhere within Israel’s borders—
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:5
They said to the king, “The man brought destruction upon us and pursued us, scheming to destroy us. Let us wipe him out, so that he does not remain anywhere within Israel’s borders.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew describes their threatened destruction; Greek adds pursuit and explicitly proposes wiping him out. The changed agent and object of extermination alter the demand’s force. Saul’s already-reported death is not used to delete the Greek statement.
Verse MT 21:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:6
let seven men from his descendants be given to us. We will hang them before YHWH at Gibeah of Saul, YHWH’s chosen one.” The king said, “I will give them.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:6
Let him give us seven men from his descendants. We will expose them to the sun before the Lord at Gibeon of Saul, chosen ones of the Lord.” The king said, “I will give them.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has Gibeah and singular chosen one; Greek Gibeon and plural chosen ones, apparently referring to the men. Greek’s unexpressed giver is retained as him. Hebrew hanging is a provisional rendering of the exposure-execution verb; Greek explicitly names sun exposure. The precise execution method is not described.
Verse MT 21:7 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:7
The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul because of the oath by YHWH between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:7
The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul because of the oath by the Lord between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both identify the spared man by his full descent and the oath. This is Jonathan’s son, distinct from Rizpah’s son of the same name in verse 8.
Verse MT 21:8 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:8
The king took Rizpah daughter of Aiah’s two sons whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and Michal daughter of Saul’s five sons whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:8
The king took Rizpah daughter of Aiah’s two sons whom she bore to Saul, Ermoni and Mephibosheth, and Michal daughter of Saul’s five sons whom she bore to Esriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both checked texts say Michal and bore despite 6:23 and Merab’s marriage in 1 Samuel 18:19. Armoni / Ermoni and Adriel / Esriel remain distinct.
Rabbinic: Rashi on 21:8, citing Sanhedrin 19b, explains that Merab gave birth and Michal raised the children [R21]; that harmonizing interpretation is not substituted into either main text.
Verse MT 21:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:9
He gave them into the Gibeonites’ hand. They hanged them on the hill before YHWH, and all seven fell together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:9
He gave them into the Gibeonites’ hand. They exposed them to the sun on the hill before the Lord, and all seven fell together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The execution vocabulary differs as in verse 6. Both expressly report the seven deaths and the harvest timing. Hebrew follows the checked seven-of-them and opening-harvest readings [R21]. No personal charge against each of the seven is added.
21:10–14 | Rizpah’s vigil and the burial of the dead
Verse MT 21:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:10
Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from heaven. She did not let the birds of heaven settle on them by day or the beasts of the field by night.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:10
Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and fixed it for herself against the rock at the beginning of the barley harvest, until water dripped on them from heaven. She did not let the birds of heaven settle on them by day or the beasts of the field by night.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek specifies barley again and uses fixing and dripping; Hebrew spreading and pouring. Both preserve her prolonged watch.
Rabbinic: Rashi on 21:10, citing Yevamot 79a, recognizes the tension with Deuteronomy 21:23 and interprets the exposure as an exceptional public judgment [R21], not a general burial rule.
Verse MT 21:11 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:11
David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul’s concubine, had done.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:11
David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul’s concubine, had done. They grew weak, and Dan son of Ioa, one of the descendants of the giants, overtook them.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Greek adds the weakening and encounter with Dan son of Ioa within the burial narrative. Its plural referent is unexpressed and its placement difficult. The addition is retained here, not silently moved into the later giant combats or supplied with invented participants.
Verse MT 21:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:12
David went and took Saul’s bones and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them on the day the Philistines struck Saul down at Gilboa.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:12
David went and took Saul’s bones and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the square of Beth-shan, where the foreigners had set them up on the day the foreigners struck Saul down at Gilboa.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has hung; Greek set up or displayed. Both specify the square here; neither is replaced with the wall wording of 1 Samuel 31:10. The Philistines / foreigners distinction continues.
Verse MT 21:13 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:13
He brought Saul’s bones and the bones of his son Jonathan up from there. They gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:13
He brought Saul’s bones and the bones of his son Jonathan up from there. He gathered the bones of those who had been exposed to the sun.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew changes to plural gatherers; Greek keeps a singular agent. Both include the executed men’s bones, with the respective exposure vocabulary.
Verse MT 21:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:14
They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Benjamin’s land, at Zela, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. Afterward God answered entreaty for the land.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:14
They buried Saul’s bones, the bones of his son Jonathan, and the bones of those exposed to the sun in Benjamin’s land, on the slope, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. Afterward God listened to the land.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek’s burial list also includes the exposed men, with bones understood from the preceding phrase; it translates the Zela element as slope or side. Hebrew refers to answered entreaty; Greek to listening to the land. Saul clarifies the father-reference in both.
The lamp of Israel and the unfinished promise
Editorial Christian royal theme: the lamp names David’s importance to his people here; the wider Davidic promise is read through Christ at 7:12–16 [L2; S1].
21:15–22 | The later combats and David’s preservation
Verse MT 21:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:15
War arose again between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his servants, and they fought the Philistines. David grew weary.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:15
War arose again between the foreigners and Israel. David went down with his servants, and they fought the foreigners. David grew weak.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The people-designations and fatigue terms differ. Both make David’s exhaustion the setting for the following danger.
Verse MT 21:16 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:16
Ishbi-benob, one of Rapha’s descendants, had a spear weighing three hundred in weight of bronze and was belted with a new weapon. He intended to strike David down.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:16
Jesbi, one of Rapha’s descendants, had a spear weighing three hundred shekels of bronze and was belted with a club. He intended to strike David down.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows the checked Ishbi form; benob may instead mean at Nob [R21]. Greek has Jesbi without Nob and explicitly names shekels and a club. Hebrew’s counted unit and noun after new are unstated; weight-units and weapon are provisional supplies, not a conversion or identification as a sword.
Verse MT 21:17 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:17
Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must no longer go out with us to battle, lest you extinguish Israel’s lamp.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:17
Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the foreigner, and killed him. Then David’s men swore, “You must no longer go out with us to battle, and you must certainly not extinguish Israel’s lamp.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both preserve Abishai’s rescue and the lamp image for David’s life. Greek strengthens the negative and omits the oath’s explicit to him. Its oath continuation after a paragraph break is retained.
Verse MT 21:18 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:18
Afterward war arose again at Gob with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, one of Rapha’s descendants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:18
Afterward war arose again at Gath with the foreigners. Then Sebocha the Astatothite struck down Seph, one of Rapha’s descendants.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Gob / Gath differs, as do the personal and regional name forms, retained rather than harmonized. Both identify the defeated man through Rapha’s line.
Verse MT 21:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:19
War arose again at Gob with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-shaft was like a weaver’s beam.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:19
War arose at Gob with the foreigners. Elhanan son of Ariorgim the Bethlehemite struck down Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-shaft was like a weaver’s beam.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both checked texts say Elhanan struck down Goliath; brother of is not inserted from 1 Chronicles 20:5. Jaare-oregim / Ariorgim remains distinct.
Rabbinic: Rashi on 21:19 identifies Elhanan with David [R21]; this is an interpretation, not the name written in the verse.
Verse MT 21:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:20
War arose again at Gath. There was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. He too was born to Rapha.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:20
War arose again at Gath. There was a man named Madon with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. He too was born to Rapha.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s checked madon is understood as stature; Greek presents Madon as a name. Each makes the distributive six-and-six explicit in English while retaining the total twenty-four. No modern diagnosis is added.
Verse MT 21:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:21
He taunted Israel, and Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, struck him down.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:21
He taunted Israel, and Jonathan son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows qere Shimeah against written Shimei [R21]; Greek has the Shimei form. Both identify the father as David’s brother.
Verse MT 21:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 21:22
These four were born to Rapha at Gath, and they fell by David’s hand and by his servants’ hand.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 21:22
These four were born as descendants of the giants at Gath, a house belonging to Rapha, and they fell by David’s hand and by his servants’ hand.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds descendants of the giants and an awkward house phrase, provisionally attached to the group’s lineage. Both retain the collective credit to David and his servants without changing the named individual agents in the preceding combats.