The tragic climax of the conflict between the Gibeonites and the house of King Saul culminates in the execution of seven of Saul's descendants. This act follows a severe, prolonged famine and is intended to appease the Gibeonites and restore God's favor to the land. Rather than carrying out the execution himself, David hands the men over to the Gibeonites. He does this to prevent the public from assuming he is acting out of personal hatred for Saul's family, and to ensure a punishment that perfectly mirrors the original offense. Just as Saul harmed the Gibeonites, they are given the power to decide the fate of his descendants [אברבנאל]. By stepping back, David acts merely as the facilitator who delivers the men to fulfill a heavenly decree [אלשיך].
The Gibeonites carry out the sentence publicly on a mountain, specifically at the hill of Saul, ensuring the act is visible to everyone [מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. The execution itself is carried out either by hanging [מצודת ציון, אברבנאל] or by striking the men [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The event takes place directly in the presence of God. This divine presence is literal, as the Ark of the Covenant and the Urim and Thummim are brought to the site when the nation gathers to inquire of God about the famine [רד״ק]. Saul's descendants are made to pass before the Ark, which miraculously identifies the guilty individuals. This process proves to the onlookers that the execution is not an arbitrary murder, but a direct mandate from God to sanctify His name [מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. Another perspective suggests that being in God's presence simply means they are hung in broad daylight, highly publicized under the open sky [אברבנאל]. All seven men meet their end simultaneously, put to death at the exact same moment [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].
The timing of these events is highly significant, occurring during the month of Nisan around Passover, which marks the first days of the barley harvest [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As the harvest season arrives, the people realize the famine is persisting and there are no crops to gather. This dire realization prompts David to turn to God and immediately correct the historical injustice committed against the Gibeonites [מלבי״ם]. Carrying out the execution at the start of the hot summer emphasizes the extreme severity of the drought. The bodies remain hanging in the intense heat until God finally answers the pleas of the land. In a miraculous act of providence, He sends abundant rain during the dry summer months, signaling that the curse has been completely lifted [אברבנאל].