Halakhah к Шмуэль Б 21:2

This is the path of the upright with their steadfast hearts, but the gentiles with their uncircumsized hearts are not so,¹Yebamoth 79a. and their wrath is kept forever. Concerning the Gibeonites, because they have not forgiven and have remained unpacified, Scripture says, they “Were not of the children of Israel” (II Sam. 21:2).²See II Samuel 21:1, in Soncino Books of the Bible, ed. A. Cohen (London: Soncino Press, 1949), 319. He who has sinned against his teacher and seeks his pardon but is not pardoned, returns even a hundred times until he is pardoned.³Yoma 87b.

King David was now apprised of the transgression for which his people were punished. He sought to make amends and called the Gibeonites and asked of them, "What shall I do for you and wherewith shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?" (II Samuel 21:2). The Gibeonites declined to accept gold or silver in expiation for Saul's transgression or as compensation for the harm and grief that they had suffered. But Saul was no longer alive and could not be punished. Instead they demanded, "… let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord" (II Samuel 21:6). David's response was immediate and forthright: "and the king said, 'I will deliver them' " (II Samuel 21:6). Scripture then proceeds to describe how David caused the grandchildren of Saul to pass before the urim ve-tumim and how he delivered to the Gibeonites the seven individuals selected by the urim ve-tumim. Assuredly, King David would not have acceded to the demands of the Gibeonites had there not been a clear indication of divine approval. Nevertheless, the Gemara questions the inherent propriety of such a course of action. "Fathers shall not be put to death for children, neither shall children be put to death for fathers" (Deuteronomy 24:16). The Gemara answers, "Rabbi Hiya the son of Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, 'Better that a letter be eradicated from the Torah than that the Divine Name be publicly profaned.' " Rashi, commenting upon the nature of the ḥillul ha-Shem (profanation of the Divine Name) which David sought to avert, explains that failure to exact punishment for the death of the Gibeonites would, in and of itself, constitute profanation of the Divine Name in the eyes of the world. Gentile nations would conclude that the Jewish people had acted unjustly in allowing strangers to be deprived of their livelihood without in any way avenging the evildoers.

Sins committed against your fellow man are not atoned for on Yom Kippur unless you placate him, as it is said, "You will be cleansed of all your sins before God." This means, only sins against God are atoned for on Yom Kippur, but sins committed against your neighbor are not atoned for on Yom Kippur, unless you placate your neighbor. Everyone must, therefore, be very careful, if he has in his possession illegally acquired property, to return it and placate [the rightful owner]. If you are holding property of which you are not certain whether or not it legally belongs to you, you should let your neighbor know that you wish to appear with him, immediately after Yom Kippur, before a Beis Din Rabbinical court to be judged according to the holy Torah; and you should firmly resolve to abide by the verdict pronounced by the Beis Din. If you sinned against your neighbor, even if only with words, you must appease him. It is your duty to go personally to appease him. However, if it is difficult for you to do so, or if you understand that he will be reconciled more easily through an intermediary, you should appease him through an intermediary. The person whose forgiveness is asked should forgive wholeheartedly and should not be ruthless, for this is not a Jewish characteristic, but a trait of Esau of whom it is said, "And he kept his anger forever" (Amos 1:11). It is also said of the Gibeonites, because they did not forgive and would not be appeased, "The Gibeonites were not of the Children of Israel." (II Samuel 21:2) The characteristic of the Children of Israel is to be slow to anger and easy to be appeased. And when the sinner asks for forgiveness you should grant forgiveness wholeheartedly and willingly. Even if he tormented you a great deal you should not take revenge nor bear a grudge. On the contrary, if the offender does not take the initiative to come to you asking for forgiveness, you should present yourself to the offender in order that [the offender] should ask your forgiveness. If a person does not banish hatred [from his heart] on Yom Kippur, his prayers will not be heard, God forbid; but if you are tolerant and forgiving, all your sins will be forgiven.