1. And a famine occurred, during the days of David, for three years continuously. And David consulted the oracle of the Lord. And the Lord said: "This is because of Saul, and his house of bloodshed. For he killed the Gibeonites."
2. Therefore, the king, calling for the Gibeonites, spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but were the remnant of the Amorites. And the sons of Israel had sworn an oath to them, but Saul wished to strike them in zeal, as if on behalf of the sons of Israel and Judah.
3. Therefore, David said to the Gibeonites: "What shall I do for you? And what shall be your satisfaction, so that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?"
4. And the Gibeonites said to him: "There is no quarrel for us over silver or gold, but against Saul and against his house. And we do not desire that any man of Israel be put to death." The king said to them, "Then what do you wish that I should do for you?"
5. And they said to the king: "The man who unjustly afflicted and oppressed us, we ought to destroy in such manner that not even one of his stock may be left behind in all the parts of Israel.
6. Let seven men from his sons be given to us, so that we may crucify them to the Lord in Gibeon of Saul, formerly the chosen place of the Lord." And the king said, "I will give them."