Human Sacrifice Ends Angry God's Famine
During King David’s reign, a terrible famine came across the land. The people were suffering greatly and they cried out to the heavens for help. But none was forthcoming. They wondered if they'd done something to make their god angry. Finally, after three years, David had had enough. He decided to personally ask God why the people were being starved. God's answer surprised David a little. But when David found out what he would have to do to end the famine, he was more than just surprised...
“Em...God?” David said. “Why are we having to suffer through this terrible famine?”
“It’s because I’m angry,” God replied sounding rather upset.
“You mean you caused the famine?” David asked surprised. "But what are you angry about?"
“Em...God?” David said. “Why are we having to suffer through this terrible famine?”
“It’s because I’m angry,” God replied sounding rather upset.
“You mean you caused the famine?” David asked surprised. "But what are you angry about?"
“Well, a while ago King Saul killed a bunch of men from the town of Gibeah,” God said. “He wasn’t supposed to do that.”
“I see,” said David. “Well then, I’d better ask the leaders of Gibeah what needs to be done to fix this.”
So David summoned the leaders from Gibeah and asked them what he could do to make up for the wrong done to them by Saul. The Gibeonites told David that they wanted seven people who were descendents of Saul so that they could hang them on a hill before the Lord.
So David decided to give the Gibeonites Saul’s sons Armoni and Mephibosheth to kill, as well as five of his grandchildren. The five grandchildren were all from the same family and were the sons of proud parents Merab and Adriel. David sent his soldiers over to Adriel and Merab’s place, in the town called Meholah, to get the boys. When they stormed in, Merab got a terrible fright.
“I see,” said David. “Well then, I’d better ask the leaders of Gibeah what needs to be done to fix this.”
So David summoned the leaders from Gibeah and asked them what he could do to make up for the wrong done to them by Saul. The Gibeonites told David that they wanted seven people who were descendents of Saul so that they could hang them on a hill before the Lord.
So David decided to give the Gibeonites Saul’s sons Armoni and Mephibosheth to kill, as well as five of his grandchildren. The five grandchildren were all from the same family and were the sons of proud parents Merab and Adriel. David sent his soldiers over to Adriel and Merab’s place, in the town called Meholah, to get the boys. When they stormed in, Merab got a terrible fright.
They grabbed two of the boys from one room and looked around for the others. The boys were very frightened and confused. They kept asking the soldiers what they’d done wrong.
“What crime have I committed?” one of the boys demanded, trying to mask his quivering voice. The soldier didn't answer.
When poor Merab saw two of her boys being hauled away and saw the soldiers looking around for the other boys, she rushed into the room where the younger boys were and, in a terrified voice, yelled at them to run for their lives.
But it was too late. The soldiers had spotted them. Merab tried to stop them but the big soldiers knocked her to the floor as if they were swatting a fly. The boys ran but they didn’t get far, and soon all five were rounded up.
“What crime have I committed?” one of the boys demanded, trying to mask his quivering voice. The soldier didn't answer.
When poor Merab saw two of her boys being hauled away and saw the soldiers looking around for the other boys, she rushed into the room where the younger boys were and, in a terrified voice, yelled at them to run for their lives.
But it was too late. The soldiers had spotted them. Merab tried to stop them but the big soldiers knocked her to the floor as if they were swatting a fly. The boys ran but they didn’t get far, and soon all five were rounded up.
One by one the boys were loaded on to a cart where they sat shaking with fear. One of the youngest boys tapped his brother on the shoulder and whispered, “What do you think they’re going to do with us?”
“I’ve no idea, replied his brother.” “It depends what we’ve done.”
“But what did we do?” the little boy asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” said his brother.
“Shut up back there!” one of the soldiers growled.
Just as they were getting ready to take off, Merab made one last dash towards the cart to rescue her boys, but one of the soldiers struck her and she fell to the ground sobbing.
“I’ve no idea, replied his brother.” “It depends what we’ve done.”
“But what did we do?” the little boy asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” said his brother.
“Shut up back there!” one of the soldiers growled.
Just as they were getting ready to take off, Merab made one last dash towards the cart to rescue her boys, but one of the soldiers struck her and she fell to the ground sobbing.
And with that, the cart moved off taking Saul's grandsons back to be joined with Saul's two sons. The mother of Saul's two sons was named Rizpah, one of Saul's mistresses. Like Merab, she was terrified about what was going to happen to her sons.
When all seven were gathered together, David handed them over to the Gibeonites who took them back to Gibeah. From there, they took the boys up to the hill they’d chosen to hang them on. It was a nice open spot where God could get a full view.
When all seven were gathered together, David handed them over to the Gibeonites who took them back to Gibeah. From there, they took the boys up to the hill they’d chosen to hang them on. It was a nice open spot where God could get a full view.
And with that, the cart moved off taking Saul's grandsons back to be joined with Saul's two sons. The mother of Saul's two sons was named Rizpah, one of Saul's mistresses. Like Merab, she was terrified about what was going to happen to her sons.
When all seven were gathered together, David handed them over to the Gibeonites who took them back to Gibeah. From there, they took the boys up to the hill they’d chosen to hang them on. It was a nice open spot where God could get a full view.
Rizpah, the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth, followed them up the hill, still in disbelief over what was happening to her children. She fought back the tears as best she could while watching the proceedings.
One of the leaders from Gibeah faced towards Yahweh in the sky and said some words quietly. Saul was mentioned a few times, but beyond that neither the boys nor Rizpah could make out much of what was said. When the leader came back down to where the boys were, he told the soldiers to line them up. The boys all tensed up beginning to fear the worst. One of the younger boys started crying and the eldest of the five brothers put his arms around him and said, “Be brave little buddy. Be brave.”
When all seven were gathered together, David handed them over to the Gibeonites who took them back to Gibeah. From there, they took the boys up to the hill they’d chosen to hang them on. It was a nice open spot where God could get a full view.
Rizpah, the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth, followed them up the hill, still in disbelief over what was happening to her children. She fought back the tears as best she could while watching the proceedings.
One of the leaders from Gibeah faced towards Yahweh in the sky and said some words quietly. Saul was mentioned a few times, but beyond that neither the boys nor Rizpah could make out much of what was said. When the leader came back down to where the boys were, he told the soldiers to line them up. The boys all tensed up beginning to fear the worst. One of the younger boys started crying and the eldest of the five brothers put his arms around him and said, “Be brave little buddy. Be brave.”
One of the soldiers moved to the end of the line and grabbed the hair of the youngest boy. Meanwhile two soldiers grabbed the oldest one and held his arms and legs tight.
Then, the solders suddenly pulled their swords out and the boys let out blood-curdling screams as the soldiers plunged their heavy swords into them. When Rizpah saw this, she fell to the ground sobbing and scratching at the earth in utter despair.
As Yahweh watched from above, the soldiers systematically sacrificed each of the seven young men and, as Rizpah looked on, they were all hung up for the Lord to see.
Then, the solders suddenly pulled their swords out and the boys let out blood-curdling screams as the soldiers plunged their heavy swords into them. When Rizpah saw this, she fell to the ground sobbing and scratching at the earth in utter despair.
As Yahweh watched from above, the soldiers systematically sacrificed each of the seven young men and, as Rizpah looked on, they were all hung up for the Lord to see.
And as a further humiliation to Saul, the boys' bodies were left hanging for months exposed to the elements where they would be ravaged by birds and wild beasts.
But Rizpah's love for her sons was so great that she would not leave them.
But Rizpah's love for her sons was so great that she would not leave them.
She took it upon herself to stay with the corpses to protect them from the birds during the day and from the wild beasts at night. For the entire harvest season she looked after the rotting bodies.
At the end of the harvest season, King David learned what Rizpah had done. He went and took the bones of the boys and put them together with the bones of Saul and Saul’s son Jonathan. Then, he buried them all together in the tomb of Saul’s father.
When God saw this, He finally ended the famine.
At the end of the harvest season, King David learned what Rizpah had done. He went and took the bones of the boys and put them together with the bones of Saul and Saul’s son Jonathan. Then, he buried them all together in the tomb of Saul’s father.
When God saw this, He finally ended the famine.