Why Did Saul Kill the Gibeonites?

2 Samuel 21:2 indicates that King Saul pursued the Gibeonites and sought to kill them off "in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah" (2 Samuel 21:5). His anger at the Gibeonites was not personal hatred, but was induced by zeal for the welfare of Israel.

What was the punishment for the Gibeonites?

David learned that the famine was a punishment for an offense committed by *Saul, who had put a number of Gibeonites to death out of zeal for Israel and Judah, but in violation of Israel's ancient oath.

Who made a covenant with the Gibeonites?

As such, while not a party to the treaty, God was its protector against the unfaithfulness of the parties (as evi- denced in 2 Samuel 21) and against common enemies (Joshua 10). In Joshua 9:15, it is written that Joshua 'made peace' with the Gibeonites, seal- ing with them a covenant 'to let them live'.