2 Samuel Chapter 4
1 When Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
2 Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is considered a part of Benjamin:
3 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have lived as foreigners there until today).
4 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
5 The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, as he took his rest at noon.
6 They came there into the middle of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7 Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him, killed him, beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
8 They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, "Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life! The LORD has avenged my lord the king today of Saul, and of his offspring."
9 David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10 when someone told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' thinking that he brought good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood from your hand, and rid the earth of you?"
12 David commanded his young men, and they killed them, cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in Abner's grave in Hebron.
Footnotes
- Verse 8 (offspring)
- or, seed
Version: World English Bible
- About World English Bible (WEB)
- WEB Glossary
- WEB Web Site (source documents)
- Bible on one web page
- Download WEB (for MS Word)
Audio
To Listen to this Chapter
The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.
2 Samuel Chapter 4 Guide
Again we have the story of a murder unjustifiable and cruel, prompted solely by the hope of gaining favour with David. Once again the king made it perfectly clear that he had no part in any of these methods of obtaining the kingdom which was his by the gift of God.
His immediate punishment of the men who had murdered his rival proved him to be a man of faith, for faith consistently refuses to make use of subterfuge and injustice to secure the realization of the ends appointed by God.
While all this is true of the attitude of David, it is nevertheless patent that with the death of Abner and Ishbosheth the very centre and strength of the cause of the house of Saul were destroyed.
This leads up to the "Then" with which the next paragraph begins.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Samuel Chapter 4 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Ishbosheth murdered. -- (1-7)
- David puts to death the murderers. -- (8-12)
Verses 1-7
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
Verses 8-12
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.