שמואל ב, פרק כ״א, פסוק ב׳

In the wake of a devastating famine, an ancient injustice against the Gibeonites comes to light, forcing King David to initiate a difficult process of reconciliation. Seeking to mend the sins of the past, David calls upon the Gibeonites with words of appeasement. The primary approach among commentators is that David asked them to overcome their anger, forgive the house of Saul, and bless the nation of Israel instead of demanding harsh justice and revenge [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. He directly asks what he can do to repair the damage that was inflicted upon them [רד״ק].

At this critical moment, a stark distinction is made to explain their cruelty and stubborn refusal to forgive: the Gibeonites were not of Israelite descent. Their unyielding demand for vengeance proved they lacked the three defining traits of Abraham’s descendants, who are known to be merciful, bashful, and kind. Their unwillingness to accept appeasement revealed their true nature as enemies, prompting David to decree that they could not marry into the Israelite community [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Furthermore, they were never sincere converts, having joined the nation only out of a fear of death [אלשיך]. It was essential to clarify that they were originally Amorites, rather than Israelites who simply lived in foreign territories [אברבנאל].

Despite being part of the Amorite nations—whom the Torah commanded not to keep alive—the Gibeonites were protected by a sworn oath. This promise, given to them during the days of Joshua, turned them into a protected class who served as woodchoppers and water drawers for the altar. It was because of this sacred oath that God took up their cause and fought their battle [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The historical grievance centered on King Saul, who actively struck and killed members of the Gibeonite community [רד״ק]. His actions were driven by intense anger [מצודת ציון], though commentators present conflicting views on the exact nature of his motivation. Some interpret his zeal positively, viewing it as a sincere, albeit misguided, desire to cleanse Israel of foreign elements because he mistakenly believed the Gibeonites were rebels and enemies [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. According to this view, since the Gibeonites had originally converted only out of fear, Saul’s guilt was somewhat lessened, though he still should have resolved the issue with money rather than taking human lives [אלשיך].

Conversely, another approach views Saul’s actions as a destructive anger fueled by personal and political motives. According to this perspective, Saul was furious with the people of Israel and Judah for failing to inform him of David's rebellion. Seeking an outlet for his rage, he falsely accused the Gibeonites living in the city of Nob of knowing about the uprising, using them as a convenient target for his wrath [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. A related interpretation suggests that Saul, knowing his kingdom would be torn away because he failed to fulfill God's command to destroy Amalek, lashed out in frustration and jealousy. He chose to vent his bitterness by attacking the Gibeonites and killing their priests [רש״י].