Rizpah
femaleUnited MonarchyMeaning: “Hot stone; coal”
A concubine of King Saul whose unwavering vigil over the bodies of her executed sons moved David to give them honorable burial.
Biography
Rizpah, a concubine of King Saul, is remembered for one of the most moving acts of devotion in the Old Testament — a mother's lonely, months-long vigil over the bodies of her slain sons.
A grievous execution
To end a famine attributed to Saul's broken oath against the Gibeonites, David handed over seven of Saul's descendants — including Rizpah's two sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth — to be executed and left exposed (2 Samuel 21:8–9).
The vigil
Rizpah spread sackcloth on a rock and guarded the bodies from spring until the rains came, driving off the birds by day and the beasts by night, refusing to let them be defiled (2 Samuel 21:10). When David heard of her devotion, he gathered the bones of the dead, along with those of Saul and Jonathan, and gave them an honorable burial (2 Samuel 21:13–14). Her grief shamed a king into mercy.
Life Timeline
Her two sons executed before the LORD at Gibeah
Keeps a long vigil guarding the bodies of the slain
On the Bible timeline
Rizpah belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).
- c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
- c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Rizpah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Rizpah appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
4 verses in 1 book2 Samuel4 verses
2 Samuel 3:7
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
2 Samuel 21:8
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: Michal: or, Michal's sister brought: Heb. bare to Adriel
2 Samuel 21:10
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
2 Samuel 21:11
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
Frequently asked about Rizpah
Who was Rizpah in the Bible?
A concubine of King Saul whose unwavering vigil over the bodies of her executed sons moved David to give them honorable burial.
What does the name Rizpah mean?
The name Rizpah means “Hot stone; coal”.
Who were Rizpah's children?
Rizpah's children include Armoni, Mephibosheth Son Of Saul.
Where does Rizpah appear in the Bible?
Rizpah is mentioned 4 times across 1 book: 2 Samuel.
What can we learn from Rizpah?
The story of Rizpah touches on themes of ajah, rizpah, abner, gibeonites — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Rizpah's life.
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