2 Samuel 4 (Listen)
Ish-bosheth Murdered
4:1 When Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2 Now 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; 3 the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).
4 Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
5 Now 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. 6 And 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.1 7 When 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, 8 and 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.” 9 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, 10 when 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. 11 How 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?” 12 And 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.
Footnotes
[1] 4:6
(ESV)
2 Samuel 4 Commentary
In 2 Samuel 4, Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, and he lost heart. All Israel was dismayed (2 Samuel 4:1). Two of his raiding party leaders, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, conspired against him (2 Samuel 4:2). The text also introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who became crippled at age five during a hasty escape after the news of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths (2 Samuel 4:4).
Meanwhile, Baanah and Rechab entered Ish-bosheth’s house during the heat of the day and murdered him while he lay in bed. Then, they took his head and traveled overnight to Hebron (2 Samuel 4:5-7). They presented the head to David, claiming that the Lord had granted him vengeance against Saul’s family (2 Samuel 4:8).
David rebuked them, recalling how he executed the man who reported Saul’s death, thinking he brought good news (2 Samuel 4:9-10). He condemned their act of killing a righteous man in his own home and ordered their execution (2 Samuel 4:11-12a). Their hands and feet were cut off, and their bodies were displayed in Hebron, while Ish-bosheth’s head was buried in Abner’s tomb (2 Samuel 4:12b).
Two Kingdoms
In 2 Samuel 4, we see the collision of two different kingdoms. Humanity’s kingdom operates within the attitude of power and opportunity. The leaders in our world grab life by the horns and strive for absolute control. In ancient times, it was no different. Helping a new king ascend to power was considered opportunistic, especially if you believed the new king was more powerful than the current one. Man always wants to be on the side with the greatest power.
David didn’t need mobsters to go put a hit on his next victim. He didn’t operate like that. King David vowed to wait on the Living Lord and had experienced enough in life to witness His unbelievable faithfulness. Rechab and Baanah probably thought David was insane. How could David defend Saul’s family? They had caused him so much stress, grief, and anxiety. They had prolonged his rightful reign as king. They had caused bloodshed and evil.
Yet, here, David defends his enemies. By ordering the death of these men, David was extending justice to Saul’s family. Even though they were against him, David’s highest priority was making sure that he wasn’t against God.
“By this act of justice, David showed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destruction of Saul’s family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with condign punishment.”
Adam Clarke
David’s Throne
After Abner’s death, Ish-Bosheth lost his last real source of power, leaving him unable to lead or defend Israel as expected of a king. Ironically, Recab and Baanah were Benjaminites. They belonged to Saul’s tribe, yet they were willing to murder to gain favor with David. In truth, this was a significant event that allowed David the opportunity to lead all of Israel as king, however, David wants no part of it. Even though it benefits him, he still condemns it.
Do we condemn evil even when it benefits us? David’s kingly rule would be established on the Torah law and the fear of God. The brutal execution and display of these men sent a warning to all of Israel that David was not like the kings of the past. A new regime was rising, and it would not operate in the flesh of the world.
“David’s decision to put the murderers to death was consistent with his previous treatment of the Amalekite who had sought an audience with David “in Ziklag” (v. 10) to announce his role in killing Saul (cf. 1:14–16). It was also consistent with Torah demands regarding “wicked men” who “have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed” (cf. Gen 9:6; Exod 21:12; Lev 24:17; Num 35:31).”
The New American Commentary
