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2 Samuel 4

KJV · Chapter 4/24

1And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

3And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

4And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish–bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

6And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

8And they brought the head of Ish–bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

9And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

11How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish–bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

📖 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.

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