2 Samuel 4

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 4

1¶ And 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 Ishbosheth, 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 Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth 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.

9¶ And 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 Ishbosheth, and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Upon hearing of Abner's death, Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was greatly troubled, and the Israelites were dismayed. Two of his captains, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated Ishbosheth in his own house while he rested at noon. They brought Ishbosheth's head to David in Hebron, expecting reward, but David condemned their wicked act. David then ordered the assassins executed and Ishbosheth's head buried in Abner's sepulchre.

Medium Summary

The news of Abner's death in Hebron caused Ishbosheth, Saul's son, to lose heart, troubling all Israel. During this period, two captains, Rechab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon, conspired against Ishbosheth. They entered his house at midday, feigning an errand, and fatally stabbed him as he lay upon his bed. After beheading Ishbosheth, they fled through the plain all night, carrying his head to David in Hebron. They presented the head to David, claiming it was divine vengeance against Saul's house. However, David reacted with severe condemnation, recalling his previous punishment of the man who reported Saul's death. David denounced their act as the murder of a righteous person in his own home. Consequently, David commanded his young men to execute Rechab and Baanah, cutting off their hands and feet, and hanging their bodies publicly. Ishbosheth's head was then respectfully interred in Abner's sepulchre in Hebron.

Long Summary

The tidings of Abner's death in Hebron profoundly weakened Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and caused great consternation among all the Israelites. In this context, two captains under Ishbosheth, Rechab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, plotted his demise. The narrative also briefly introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who became lame at five years old while fleeing the news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths. Rechab and Baanah approached Ishbosheth's house during the heat of the day, finding him resting on his bed at noon. They gained entry by feigning an errand to fetch wheat, then treacherously smote Ishbosheth under the fifth rib, killing him. They proceeded to behead him and then escaped through the plain under the cover of night. Carrying Ishbosheth's head, they journeyed to Hebron, presenting it to David. They declared to David that the Lord had avenged him of Saul and his seed, implying their act was a service. However, David, invoking the living Lord who had redeemed his soul from all adversity, vehemently rejected their claim. He recounted how he had executed the man who brought tidings of Saul's death, despite the man expecting a reward. David emphasized that if he punished one who merely reported a death, how much more would he punish those who wickedly slew a righteous person in his own house. He declared that he would require Ishbosheth's blood from their hands and remove them from the earth. David then commanded his young men to execute Rechab and Baanah. They were slain, their hands and feet were cut off, and their bodies were hanged over the pool in Hebron as a public display. Finally, Ishbosheth's head was taken and buried with honor in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

Core Concepts

  • Assassination of IshboshethRechab and Baanah, two of Ishbosheth's captains, treacherously murdered him in his own house while he rested at noon. This act of betrayal marked a violent end to Saul's remaining royal line.
  • David's JusticeDavid vehemently condemned the murder of Ishbosheth, demonstrating his commitment to righteous justice rather than opportunistic gain. He punished the assassins severely, upholding a standard of moral conduct.
  • Consequences of TreacheryRechab and Baanah, expecting reward for their act, instead faced swift and brutal execution at David's command. Their hands and feet were cut off, and their bodies publicly displayed, serving as a deterrent against similar acts of disloyalty.
  • The Lame MephiboshethThe chapter briefly introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who became lame in his youth while fleeing the news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths. This detail establishes his existence and physical condition, setting the stage for future events.
  • Transition of PowerThe death of Ishbosheth, Saul's last effective son, marks the definitive end of Saul's house as a rival kingdom. This event paves the way for David to become the undisputed king over all Israel, unifying the divided nation.
  • Respect for the DeceasedDespite Ishbosheth being an adversary, David ensured his head was respectfully buried in Abner's sepulchre in Hebron. This act demonstrates David's adherence to proper burial rites and his rejection of the assassins' desecration.