2 Samuel chapter 4
English Standard Version
1When Ish-bosheth, Saul 's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Now Saul 's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; 3the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).
5Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest. 6And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night, 8and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." 9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?" 12And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
New International Version
1When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.
5Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. 6They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
7They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."
9David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 10when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!"
New American Standard Bible
1Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified. 2And Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of troops: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as strangers until this day).
5So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while he was taking his midday rest. 6And they came to the interior of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7Now when they had come into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him, and they beheaded him. And they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night. 8Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, 'Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; so the Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.'
9But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, 'As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10when the one who informed me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ also viewed himself as the bearer of good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?' 12Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet, and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Christian Standard Bible
1When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he gave up, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties: one named Baanah and the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the Benjaminites. Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and still reside there as aliens today.
5Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at Ish-bosheth’s house during the heat of the day while the king was taking his midday nap. 6They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom and stabbed and killed him. They removed his head, took it, and traveled by way of the Arabah all night. 8They brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here’s the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who intended to take your life. Today the Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."
9But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, the one who has redeemed my life from every distress, 10when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was my reward to him for his news! 11How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from you and purge you from the earth?"
New Living Translation
1When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 2Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory 3because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.
5One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest. 6The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her. 7They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night. 8When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. 'Look!' they exclaimed to the king. 'Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!'
9But David said to Recab and Baanah, 'The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. 10Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! 11How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?'
King James Version
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.)
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.
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?
New King James Version
1When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. 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 was part of Benjamin, 3because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
5Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon. 6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain. 8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9But 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 life from all adversity, 10when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. 11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?” 12So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.
What does 2 Samuel chapter 4 mean?
Second Samuel 4 exemplifies David's patience and trust in God. God promised to make him king when he was a teenager (1 Samuel 16:12–13). Seven years prior to this chapter's events, Saul died in battle (1 Samuel 31:1–7). David became king of the tribe of Judah. He stayed in Judah, content to let God bring the other tribes to him rather than fight to conquer them. Two years prior to the events of 2 Samuel 4, Saul's general Abner made Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over the remaining tribes. Still, David waited, even as Abner started a civil war (2 Samuel 1—3).Now, Abner has been murdered by Joab in revenge for his brother Asahel (2 Samuel 3:30). Ish-bosheth is terrified. Abner used all his power and influence to put Ish-bosheth on the throne and fight a war with David for control of Israel. But before he died, Abner rebelled against Ish-bosheth and convinced the elders of Israel to follow David as king (2 Samuel 3:17–19). Both Ish-bosheth and Israel are in a dangerous situation (2 Samuel 4:1).
In fact, two men are already plotting to kill Ish-bosheth to gain David's favor. Rechab and Baanah are brothers from the Benjaminite town of Beeroth. They are bandit captains supposedly loyal to their king. With Abner's death, their loyalties have turned (2 Samuel 4:2–3).
Ish-bosheth is not the only living descendant of Saul. Jonathan's son Mephibosheth is still alive. He was five when his father and grandfather were killed in battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1–7). As his nurse fled with him, she dropped him, and he became lame. He's now twelve. No one seems to be interested either in making Mephibosheth king or killing the boy to stop him from claiming the throne (2 Samuel 4:4).
The brothers Rechab and Baanah arrive at Ish-bosheth's house in the heat of the day when people usually rest. They pretend they've come to buy wheat. Instead, they make their way to Ish-bosheth's bedroom and strike him dead. They cut off his head and travel by night from Ish-bosheth's capital in Mahanaim to David's headquarters in Hebron. The brothers present Ish-bosheth's head to David, apparently expecting a reward for killing his rival to the throne. They tell David that they have avenged him for Saul's attempts to murder him (2 Samuel 4:5–8).
David is not pleased. Since he left Saul, David has corrected several men who claimed to be loyal to him but completely misjudged the respect and love he has for God's anointed king and his family. David tells them about the Amalekite who came to him in Ziklag seeking a reward with the news that he had killed Saul. That man's prize was death (2 Samuel 1:1–16). Ish-bosheth had done nothing against David. David orders his men to execute the pair and cut off their hands and feet. He commands their bodies to be hung in public: a curse (Deuteronomy 21:22–23). David has Ish-bosheth's head interred in Abner's tomb (2 Samuel 4:9–12).
With both Abner and Ish-bosheth dead, the elders of the northern and eastern tribes of Israel are free to pledge their allegiance to David. They gather at Hebron and make a covenant with him. David has ruled Judah for seven-and-a-half years. He'll reign as the king of the united tribes for another thirty-three (2 Samuel 5:1–5).
