2 Samuel 21:7

7 But the king spared Mefivoshet, the son of Yonatan the son of Sha'ul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Yonatan the son of Sha'ul.

2 Samuel 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 21:7

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son
of Saul
As they did not name particular persons, only required seven sons, it was at the option of the king what sons to deliver to them, and therefore kept back Mephibosheth, who is thus described, to distinguish him from a son of Saul's of the same name, after mentioned:

because of the Lord's oath that [was] between them, between David and
Jonathan the son of Saul;
not merely or only out of affection to Mephibosheth, but because of the oath, that he might not be guilty of the same crime Saul was in slaying the Gibeonites.

2 Samuel 21:7 In-Context

5 They said to the king, The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, [that] we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Yisra'el,

6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the LORD in Gevah of Sha'ul, the chosen of the LORD. The king said, I will give them.

7 But the king spared Mefivoshet, the son of Yonatan the son of Sha'ul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Yonatan the son of Sha'ul.

8 But the king took the two sons of Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah, whom she bore to Sha'ul, Armoni and Mefivoshet; and the five sons of Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul, whom she bore to `Adri'el the son of Barzillai the Mecholati:

9 He delivered them into the hands of the Giv`onim, and they hanged them in the mountain before the LORD, and they fell [all] seven together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.