Rizpah was an important figure in the Bible, though not much is said about her. She appears in 2 Samuel chapters 3, 21, and 24. Here is an overview of who Rizpah was and her significance in the Bible:
Rizpah was King Saul’s Concubine
Rizpah was one of King Saul’s concubines. This means she was a secondary wife or mistress to Saul, who was the first king of Israel. Though not Saul’s primary wife, Rizpah still held status as mother to two of Saul’s sons: Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 21:8).
Rizpah Protected the Bodies of Saul’s Heirs
After Saul’s death, his heir Ish-Bosheth briefly became king. But David ultimately took the throne instead. During David’s reign, he allowed the Gibeonites to kill some of Saul’s male heirs as retaliation for Saul’s wrongdoing against them. Among those put to death were Rizpah’s two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth.
Rizpah protectively gathered the bodies of her slain sons and five other heirs of Saul. She spread out sackcloth and stayed beside their uncovered bodies from the beginning of the barley harvest until the autumn rains began (2 Samuel 21:8-10). This was meant as a statement of mourning and to protect the bodies from being devoured by animals.
Rizpah’s Vigil Led to a Proper Burial
When David learned of Rizpah’s vigil by the bodies, he was moved to collect the bones of Saul and Jonathan from their graves. He then had Saul’s heirs buried properly in Saul’s family tomb. Rizpah’s devotion both protected and honored the dead, while also drawing David’s attention to give them a fitting burial (2 Samuel 21:11-14).
Rizpah was Mother of One of David’s Sons
Later in 2 Samuel 21, Rizpah is also identified as the mother of another of David’s sons, named Abital. This indicates David took Rizpah as one of his own concubines later on. As Abital’s mother, Rizpah became grandmother to his son, Jerimoth. These family ties connected Rizpah not only to Saul’s household but also to David’s (2 Samuel 21:8; 1 Chronicles 3:8).
Key Facts About Rizpah
- She was a concubine of King Saul and mother of two of his sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth.
- After the execution of Saul’s heirs, she protected their bodies and remained by them until they were buried.
- Her vigil led David to retrieve Saul’s bones for proper burial.
- She later became one of David’s concubines and mother of his son Abital.
Rizpah’s Significance and Legacy
Though she appears only briefly in the biblical account, Rizpah was:
- A politically strategic wife for both Saul and later David, helping unite their kingdoms.
- A devoted mother who grieved the loss of her sons and sought to protect them even in death.
- An influential woman who moved the king to action.
- A link between two important biblical dynasties.
Rizpah’s care for her dead sons and Saul’s heirs displayed strength, loyalty, and tenacity as a woman in the midst of powerful male leaders. She leveraged her position and her actions as a woman to ensure her sons were properly honored after their unjust executions. Her vigil brought public awareness and the king’s intervention to give the deceased their due burial rights. Though she had little official power, Rizpah found an influential role operating out of deep maternal devotion.
Rizpah’s brief but striking biblical story offers modern readers a glimpse into the complex social dynamics between politically powerful men and their female concubines in Old Testament times. Though largely low in status, Rizpah was able to impact public policy and the king himself through her bold grieving and protection of the dead. Her story sheds light on the agency and influence that marginalized women in patriarchal societies could at times exert to advocate for what they believed was right.
1. Rizpah in the Bible: Her relationship with King Saul
The first mention of Rizpah in the Bible establishes her as one of Saul’s concubines and the mother of two of his sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth. A concubine was similar to a wife but held lower status, as Saul’s primary wife was Ahinoam (1 Samuel 14:50). As Saul’s concubine, Rizpah occupied a secondary position but still bore the king two heirs to the throne. Her role as mother of the king’s sons granted her some position and influence in the royal household.
2. Rizpah’s protection of the bodies of Saul’s heirs
After Saul’s death, David allowed the Gibeonites to execute some of Saul’s male heirs, including Rizpah’s two sons, as retribution for Saul’s actions against them. Rizpah responded by gathering sackcloth and camping out beside the bodies of her sons and five other executed heirs. She protected them from scavengers and the elements, keeping vigil from the barley harvest to the autumn rains.
This vivid scene highlights Rizpah’s devotion as a grieving mother. She used her steadfast presence to both honor the dead and protest the unjust killings. Rizpah possibly hoped her public mourning might spur David to reconsider having allowed the executions.
3. Rizpah’s influence over David
When David heard about Rizpah’s months-long vigil, he was moved to action. David retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan from their graves in Jabesh and had them buried with Saul’s heirs in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. This gave the executed men proper burial. Rizpah’s protest succeeded in gaining the king’s attention and prompting him to make right what had happened to the bodies under his order.
This shows Rizpah’s influence even as a concubine. Her courageous act of mourning led King David to reconsider and carry out an honorable burial for Saul’s family. Rizpah caused the powerful monarch to correct a wrongdoing through her unrelenting devotion as a mother.
4. Rizpah’s ties to both Saul and David’s families
Rizpah bore sons to both Saul and, later, David. After the story of her vigil over the bodies, the Bible notes matter-of-factly that Rizpah was also mother of David’s son Abital (2 Samuel 21:8). As Abital’s mother, Rizpah became grandmother to his son Jerimoth (1 Chronicles 3:8).
This revealed Rizpah held status in both Saul and David’s households. Concubines cementing political ties between royal families was common. Rizpah’s ties to both kings through bearing their sons highlights her strategic role.
5. Rizpah’s lasting legacy
Though briefly mentioned, Rizpah left an enduring legacy in several ways:
- As a politically savvy concubine who bore heirs sealing bonds between royal families
- A devoted mother who took extraordinary action to honor her unjustly killed sons
- An influencer of King David, prompting him to correct wrongdoing
- A bridge between the important dynasties of Saul and David
Rizpah made shrewd use of what influence she had as a woman in a patriarchal society. Her motherly grievance brought public awareness and the king’s intervention to properly bury royal heirs. Though largely powerless, her courageous vigil had significant impact.
6. Context for concubines in Old Testament culture
Concubines in patriarchal Old Testament culture held an inferior status to wives yet occupied recognized positions in royal households. Concubines primarily served to bear children to continue a male family line. While not granted the full protections of wives, concubines like Rizpah had improved social standing and economic provisions above common women due to their royal ties.
Yet as Rizpah’s story shows, concubines could gain influence. Though she only briefly appears, Rizpah used her motherhood of sons in two kingdoms to gain audience with King David. Her dramatic act of grief achieved proper burial of royal heirs in spite of her limitations as a concubine.
7. Rizpah’s grief as a mother
Central to Rizpah’s story is her profound grief as a mother. After the brutal executions of her sons, Rizpah immediately took action. She used sackcloth signaling her mourning and gathered the bodies, preventing scavenging animals from devouring them.
Rizpah then kept months-long vigil, protecting the exposed corpses from the elements until the autumn rains fell. This remarkable act honored her dead sons and protested the injustice done to them. It also displayed deep maternal devotion, as she fearlessly occupied a death site to preserve their remains.
8. How Rizpah gained awareness for her cause
In ancient Israel, improper burial signified contempt, but honorable burial demonstrated respect. By protecting their unburied bodies, Rizpah drew public notice to the princes’ undignified deaths. Sitting in sackcloth signaled her dissent against David’s decision.
Rizpah’s dramatic protest also may have prevented David from trying to cover up the killings. Instead, her public mourning kept awareness high until the king made amends. Rizpah found creative means for grievance as a politically weak woman in a patriarchy.
9. Rizpah’s courage as a woman
For a woman in Rizpah’s position, her vigil required remarkable courage. As a concubine, she held little status and was vulnerable. Yet she boldly occupied a site of slaughter and death, challenging the king’s actions. She persisted through months of exposure to the elements in a public protest of David’s policy.
Rizpah bravely leveraged one of the few powers she had as a woman – the expression of maternal grief. Her courage revealed both love for her sons and conviction for what was right. Rizpah’s story highlights often-overlooked female agency in the biblical world.
10. Lessons from Rizpah’s story
Readers today can gain these insights from Rizpah’s brief but vivid story:
- Even the marginalized can influence society
- Creativity and courage are required for the vulnerable to be heard
- Love empowers sacrifice for a worthy cause
- Speaking truth to power often has a cost
- Advocating for the voiceless is a moral duty
Though appearing only briefly, Rizpah provides an inspiring biblical example of how to overcome powerlessness through conviction, devotion, and protest.
Conclusion
In summary, Rizpah was a concubine to Kings Saul and David who demonstrated powerful devotion as a grieving mother. After the execution of her sons, she protected their bodies in protest until David was moved to give them proper burial. Her brief story provides meaningful insights into women’s status and influence in Old Testament times. Though Rizpah held little official authority, she leveraged her bold voice and conviction to be heard, even by the king. Her story offers timeless lessons on courage, love, justice, and the ability to impact society, even from positions of low status.