Rizpah

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Rizpah
     coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one of Saul's
     concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth (2
     Sam. 3:7; 21:8, 10, 11).
     
       It happened that a grievous famine, which lasted for three


     years, fell upon the land during the earlier half of David's
     reign at Jerusalem. This calamity was sent "for Saul and for his
     bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." David inquired of
     the Gibeonites what satisfaction they demanded, and was answered
     that nothing would compensate for the wrong Saul had done to
     them but the death of seven of Saul's sons. David accordingly
     delivered up to them the two sons of Rizpah and five of the sons
     of Merab (q.v.), Saul's eldest daughter, whom she bore to
     Adriel. These the Gibeonites put to death, and hung up their
     bodies before the Lord at the sanctuary at Gibeah. Rizpah
     thereupon took her place on the rock of Gibeah (q.v.), and for
     five months watched the suspended bodies of her children, to
     prevent them from being devoured by the beasts and birds of
     prey, till they were at length taken down and buried by David.
     
       Her marriage to Abner was the occasion of a quarrel between
     him and Ishbosheth, which led to Abner's going over to the side
     of David (2 Sam. 3:17-21).
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Rizpah, bed; extension; a coal