2 Samuel 4:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But 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,

NIV: David 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,

NASB: But 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,

CSB: But 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,

NLT: But David said to Recab and Baanah, 'The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness.

KJV: 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,

NKJV: But 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,

In 2 Samuel 4:9–12, David mourns for Saul's kingdom one last time. Two raiders from the tribe of Benjamin have murdered Ish-bosheth, the king of Israel and Saul's son. The whole nation knows that God chose David to be king (2 Samuel 3:17), but only David seems to trust God's timing. David has already mourned the deaths of Saul, Jonathan, and Saul's general Abner (2 Samuel 1:17–27; 3:31–34). Ish-bosheth was an innocent man who merely inherited his father's crown. David executes his murderers. After this last act of loyalty, Israel accepts David as king of the nation (2 Samuel 5:1–5).

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.