History · Chapter 4 of 24

2 Samuel 4

With Abner dead, Ishbosheth loses courage and Israel is dismayed. Two of his own captains, Rechab and Baanah, sneak into his house at noon, murder him in bed, behead him, and carry the head to David, expecting reward. David, refusing to build his throne on murder, condemns them for killing a righteous man in his bed, and has them executed. Ishbosheth's head is buried honorably in Abner's tomb.

What happens in 2 Samuel 4

When Ishbosheth hears that Abner has died at Hebron, his courage fails and all Israel is troubled. The narrator pauses to note that Jonathan left a lame son, Mephibosheth, injured as a child when his nurse fled. Two captains of Ishbosheth's raiding bands, the brothers Rechab and Baanah, come to his house in the heat of the day as he rests at noon. Slipping in as if to fetch wheat, they stab him, behead him, and escape by night with the head.

They bring it to David at Hebron, presenting it as the LORD's vengeance on Saul's line and expecting a reward. David rebukes them: when a man once thought his news of Saul's death would please him, David had that man killed. How much more these murderers of an innocent man asleep in his own bed. David orders them executed, their hands and feet cut off and their bodies hung by the pool of Hebron. He buries Ishbosheth's head in Abner's tomb.

2 Samuel 4 in context

Ishbosheth was a weak figurehead propped up by Abner; with Abner gone, his cause collapses. His murderers assume David will welcome the removal of his rival, misjudging the king entirely. David's swift justice mirrors his execution of the Amalekite earlier: he will not reward those who kill to advance him.

The mention of Mephibosheth prepares for David's later kindness to Jonathan's house. The killing clears David's final rival, but by God's providence, not his approval.

Main themes of 2 Samuel 4

2 Samuel 4 (KJV)

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.) 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. 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? 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.

Verses to carry from 2 Samuel 4

“And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.”2 Samuel 4:1

“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, When 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: How 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?”2 Samuel 4:9-11

“And 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.”2 Samuel 4:12

Reflection

Opportunity sometimes arrives wrapped in someone else's sin, offering us gain if we simply accept it. David refused. When advantage comes to you by a wrong you did not commit but could quietly benefit from, will you name it and reject it? A clean conscience is worth more than a cleared path.

Trust God to give what he has promised without the help of evil hands.

A prayer from 2 Samuel 4