The answer is: Saul killed the Gibeonites

2 Sam 21:1

In the intriguing narrative of 2 Samuel 21, we see an unusual but significant response resembling a divine principle at work—one where human actions meet their consequences in the realm of the spiritual and earthly. God sent a famine during David's reign due to Saul's actions against the Gibeonites, and this offers profound insight into the interconnectedness of justice, responsibility, and community.

The Gibeonites, a group of people that the Israelites were bound by an oath not to harm, were significant figures in Israel's early history. Saul, however, driven by zeal or perhaps a misaligned sense of nationalism, broke this covenant and attacked them. This event underlines an interesting characteristic of sacred agreements; in ancient Israel, covenants held inexorable weight and depicted direct lines between relationships and divine favor or disfavor.

Did you know that the Hebrew Scriptures often present famine as a tool of God’s correction? It’s not just about agricultural voids but moral reckoning, linking back to the famous story of Joseph and the famine in Egypt, which served to bring those who needed preserving into a harmonious relationship with God and each other.

From this episode, we can infer an essential lesson: actions have repercussions, and they can ripple through the generations. The consequences of leadership choices, especially in breaking important promises, can affect entire nations and periods. Remember, the Bible does not shy away from the nuances of human behavior, inviting us to reflect on broader themes of accountability and the weight of collective decisions in our communities, ringing true from ancient times right into our present lives.