21:1 the days of David. The chronological history of David’s life and reign is given in I Samuel 16–II Samuel 20. The last four chapters of II Samuel are in the nature of appendices.

21:1 slew the Gibeonites. Joshua had made a firm commitment to the Gibeonites four hundred years earlier (Joshua 9:15), and Saul and his sons had broken that treaty. This act is not recorded elsewhere in Scripture, but apparently had grievously displeased the Lord.