to a close. Directly framing the central poems are the warrior exploits in 21:15–22 and again in 23:8–39 (accompanied by a warrior list) and bracketing in the outer circle are a famine story (21:1–14) and a plague story (24:11-25). The episode related to the Gibeonites in 21:1-14 links to the relationship between David and the house of Saul in the preceding chapter. The final section containing the plague story in 2 Samuel 24 links to the building of Solomon's temple, so appropriately placed right before 1 Kings. After these episodes the next story is King Solomon's succession, so then King David can die (1 Kings 1–2). David Avenges the Gibeonites (21:1–14) This section initiates the closing portrait of David by reprising several events from 1 and 2 Samuel, reaching back to Saul's rise to power, his rescue of the people of Jabesh-gilead (1 Samuel 9–11), David's pact with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:12–17; 20:42), Saul's death and his stealthy burial by the people of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 31). Long ago David lamented Saul's demise (2 Samuel 1:17-27), now he provided him with a proper burial, a sign of his enduring loyalty to the king he succeeded. A three-year continuous famine caused by drought led David to enquire of YHWH and received the reason that it was linked to the blood-guilt incurred by the house of Saul for putting the Gibeonites to death (verse 1). In Joshua 9 it is recorded that the Gibeonites who were "Amorites" (verse 2; the inhabitants of the land of Canaan before the Israelite occupation) had an irrevocable treaty with the Israelites to be left alive (verses 19–20), so breaching a treaty would lead to national calamity as is evident from biblical and extrabiblical documents. Saul could have been aggravated by their settlement in Benjaminite territory because he would want to build Gibeon as his capital. There is no supporting account that Saul slaughtered the Gibeonites, but the statement is credible when compared to his dealings with the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 22:6–23). David wished to expiate for the sin of Saul with a royal sacrifice (cf.2 Kings 3:26-7), made 'at the beginning of barley harvest' (verse 9). David's motives in allowing the death of Saulides certainly would come under suspicion, but this narrative (together with its sequel in 2 Samuel 9:1–13) shows that David was not acting solely to gain political advantage, but out of