2 Samuel 4:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Ish-bosheth, Saul 's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

NIV: When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.

NASB: Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified.

CSB: When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he gave up, and all Israel was dismayed.

NLT: When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.

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

NKJV: When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.

Second Samuel 4:1–3 introduces the last puzzle piece before David can be made king of Israel. Abner, Saul's general, made Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, ruler of the kingdom of Israel. Two years later, Abner rebelled and then died (2 Samuel 3). Ish-bosheth is in a very vulnerable position. Now, two brothers of Ish-bosheth's tribe are introduced. They will sneak in and murder Ish-bosheth while he sleeps. David will mourn the loss of an innocent man, and the elders of Israel will accept him as king (2 Samuel 4:5—5:5).

In 2 Samuel 4, David again shows loyalty to Saul. Saul's cousin and general, and the man who made Ish-bosheth king of Israel, has been murdered (2 Samuel 3:1–30). Without a strong leader, Israel is in danger. Two Benjaminite brothers kill Ish-bosheth in his bed, cut off his head, and present it to David in Hebron, expecting a reward. David orders the brothers executed for murdering an innocent man. David mourns Ish-bosheth, proving he had nothing to do with the death. In response, the elders of Israel ask him to be their king (2 Samuel 5:1–4).

Second Samuel 4 describes the aftermath of Abner's death. With the powerful man gone, no one remains to defend Israel or protect Saul's son Ish-bosheth. Two Benjaminite brothers kill the king and bring his head to David. David is furious that they've murdered a righteous man and orders their execution. David has mourned the deaths of Saul, Jonathan, Abner, and now Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 1:17–27; 3:31–34). The elders of Israel honor his loyalty to Saul's house and travel to Hebron to pledge themselves to David. God blesses both David and the nation (2 Samuel 5).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 12/7/2025 9:10:56 AM