1. In David’s time there was a famine for three years, year after year. David sought the presence of the Lord, who said: There is bloodguilt on Saul and his family because he put the Gibeonites to death.
2. So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but survivors of the Amorites; and although the Israelites had given them their oath, Saul had sought to kill them off in his zeal for the Israelites and for Judah.)
3. David said to the Gibeonites, “What must I do for you and how must I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord?”
4. The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no claim against Saul and his house for silver or gold, nor is it our place to put anyone to death in Israel.” Then he said, “I will do for you whatever you propose.”
5. They said to the king, “As for the man who was exterminating us and who intended to destroy us that we might have no place in all the territory of Israel,