✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

2 Samuel 4

BLIVRE · Chapter 4/24

1Logo que o filho de Saul ouviu que Abner havia sido morto em Hebrom, as mãos se lhe desconjuntaram, e todo Israel foi atemorizado.

2E o filho de Saul tinha dois homens, os quais eram capitães de tropa, o nome de um era Baaná, e o do outro Recabe, filhos de Rimom beerotita, dos filhos de Benjamim (porque Beerote era contada com Benjamim;

3esses beerotitas haviam fugido a Gitaim, e eram peregrinos ali até então).

4E Jônatas, filho de Saul, tinha um filho aleijado dos pés de idade de cinco anos, o qual, quando a notícia da morte de Saul e de Jônatas veio de Jezreel, a sua ama o tomou e fugiu; e quando ela ia fugindo depressa, o menino caiu e ficou aleijado. Seu nome era Mefibosete.

5Então os filhos de Rimom beerotita, Recabe e Baaná, foram e entraram no maior calor do dia na casa de Is-Bosete, o qual estava dormindo à sesta.

6Eles entraram no meio da casa como quem vinha buscar trigo, e lhe feriram na quinta costela. E Recabe e seu irmão Baaná escaparam.

7Pois, quando entraram na casa, estando ele em sua cama em seu quarto, feriram-no de morte, e cortaram-lhe a cabeça, e, havendo-a tomado, caminharam toda a noite pelo caminho da planície.

8E trouxeram a cabeça de Is-Bosete a Davi em Hebrom, e disseram ao rei: Eis aqui a cabeça de Is-Bosete, filho de Saul, teu inimigo, que procurava matar-te; e o SENHOR vingou hoje ao meu senhor, o rei, de Saul e de sua descendência.

9E Davi respondeu a Recabe e a seu irmão Baaná, filhos de Rimom beerotita, e disse-lhes: Vive o SENHOR que redimiu minha alma de toda angústia,

10que, quando um me deu a notícia, dizendo: Eis que Saul é morto, imaginando que trazia uma boa notícia, eu o detive e o matei em Ziclague, por causa da notícia.

11Quanto mais aos homens maus que mataram a um homem justo em sua casa, e sobre sua cama? Agora, pois, não tenho eu de exigir o seu sangue das vossas mãos, e exterminar-vos da terra?

12Então Davi deu ordem aos rapazes, e eles os mataram, e cortaram-lhes as mãos e os pés, e penduraram-nos sobre o tanque, em Hebrom. Depois tomaram a cabeça de Is-Bosete, e enterraram-na no sepulcro de Abner em Hebrom.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

With Abner's death, Ish-bosheth loses support and courage. Two of his captains assassinate him while he sleeps and bring his head to David, expecting a reward, but David has them executed for killing an innocent man in his own home.

Explanation

The fall of the house of Saul is completed with the death of the last heir who reigned over Israel. Once again David refuses to profit from a political assassination, reaffirming his commitment to justice even when the crime works in his favor. This pattern of conduct — not taking advantage of others' violence — is what secures his legitimacy as king in the eyes of the people. It is a reminder that the ends do not justify the means, even when the outcome seems advantageous.

Fun facts

  • This chapter introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who became lame at the age of five after falling while his nurse fled with him — a character who will reappear significantly later, when David fulfills his promise to Jonathan.
  • Beeroth, the city of Ish-bosheth's assassins, originally belonged to the territory of Benjamin, showing that the betrayal came from within Saul's own tribe.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 2 Samuel 4:1On hearing of Abner’s death, Saul’s son loses heart, and all Israel is troubled by the news.
  2. 2 Samuel 4:2Ish-bosheth had two captains, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon, Benjamites from Beeroth—men who would soon turn against the very king they served.
  3. 2 Samuel 4:3A geographical detail: the people of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim and had lived there as foreigners up to that time.
  4. 2 Samuel 4:4Mephibosheth became lame in both feet because his nurse fled with him in her arms, in haste, when the news of Saul and Jonathan’s death arrived, and he fell—a childhood accident that matters again later, in chapter 9.
  5. 2 Samuel 4:5The two captains, Rechab and Baanah, enter Ish-bosheth’s house in the heat of the day, just when he was lying down for his midday rest.
  6. 2 Samuel 4:6They enter pretending to fetch wheat, and in this way manage to get close and strike down Ish-bosheth, escaping right after.
  7. 2 Samuel 4:7The two kill Ish-bosheth in his own bed, cut off his head, and walk all night carrying it through the plain to David.
  8. 2 Samuel 4:8Rechab and Baanah bring Ish-bosheth’s head to David, claiming that the LORD had avenged the king against Saul and his offspring through them.
  9. 2 Samuel 4:9David answers by swearing by the LORD, who has redeemed his soul out of all trouble, making clear that he will not reward this crime.
  10. 2 Samuel 4:10David recalls the precedent: when the Amalekite brought news of Saul’s death expecting a reward, David had him put to death anyway, in Ziklag—the episode told in chapter 1.
  11. 2 Samuel 4:11David argues: if he punished even the one who merely brought news of Saul’s death, how much more will he punish wicked men who killed an innocent man in his own bed.
  12. 2 Samuel 4:12Cutting off the hands and feet of Ish-bosheth’s killers and hanging up their bodies was David’s way of making it publicly clear that he did not reward regicide—even though he had benefited from his rival’s death.

Chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play