2 Samuel 21 in the early church

[LXX: 2 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 2 Kings]

13 passages quote, allude to, or echo 2 Samuel 21, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 12 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 20

2 Samuel 21:1

During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:1–14	Demonstration 16.6 · Aphrahat	allusion, high confidence	337-345
2 Sam 21:1–9	Against Jovinianus 2.33 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	393
2 Sam 21:1	On the Governance of God 7.81 · Salvian of Marseilles	allusion, high confidence	ca. 439-451

2 Samuel 21:12

he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:12	On Care for the Dead 11 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 421–422

2 Samuel 21:15

Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:15	On the Duties of the Clergy 1.35 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386–390

2 Samuel 21:16

Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:16	Apology of the Prophet David 33 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 384-390

2 Samuel 21:17

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:17	Letter 361 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–390
2 Sam 21:17	On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.19 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370
2 Sam 21:17	Apology of the Prophet David 33 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 384-390
2 Sam 21:17	On the Duties of the Clergy 2.7 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–390
2 Sam 21:17	Letter 228.10 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386–430

2 Samuel 21:20

And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 Sam 21:20	Book of Heresies 108.3 · Philastrius of Brescia	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380s
2 Sam 21:20	Letters 21.1 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413