Ish-bosheth's Captains and Mephibosheth
Study note
When Ish-bosheth heard that Abner was dead, he lost all courage, and the people of Israel were thrown into confusion. Two of his military captains, Rechab and Baanah, were from the town of Beeroth in Benjamin. This chapter also introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who became disabled at age five when his nurse dropped him while fleeing after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. This detail is important because Mephibosheth would later play a significant role in David's story.
1 When Ish-bosheth got the news that Abner was dead in Hebron, he completely lost his nerve. Everyone in Israel was terrified too. And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
2 Ish-bosheth had two officers who led raiding parties. Their names were Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon from the town of Beeroth in the territory of Benjamin. And 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:
3 The people of Beeroth had run away to Gittaim. They have lived there as outsiders ever since. And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
4 Jonathan, Saul's son, had a boy who could not walk because both his feet were injured. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from the battlefield. His nurse scooped him up and ran, but in her hurry the boy fell and was permanently crippled. His name was Mephibosheth. And 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.
The Murder of Ish-bosheth
Study note
Rechab and Baanah went to Ish-bosheth's house during the heat of the day while he was taking a nap. They pretended to be getting wheat from the storeroom, but instead they stabbed him and cut off his head. They traveled all night and brought the head to David in Hebron, claiming that the Lord had avenged David against Saul's family.
5 One hot afternoon, Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-bosheth's house while he was lying down for his midday rest. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6 They walked right into the center of the house, pretending to be picking up wheat. Then they stabbed Ish-bosheth in the stomach and slipped away. And 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.
7 They had gone inside while he slept on his bed in his private room. After stabbing and killing him, they cut off his head, took it, and traveled through the Jordan Valley all night long. For 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.
8 They presented Ish-bosheth's head to David at Hebron and announced, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who wanted you dead. Today the Lord has given you justice against Saul and his family." And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth 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.
David Executes the Murderers
Study note
David responded with the same outrage he had shown when the Amalekite claimed to have killed Saul. David reminded them of how he had dealt with that man, and pointed out that Ish-bosheth was an innocent man killed in his own bed. David ordered his soldiers to execute Rechab and Baanah. Their hands and feet were cut off and their bodies were displayed as a warning. Ish-bosheth's head was given a proper burial in Abner's tomb in Hebron.
9 David answered Rechab and Baanah, "I swear by the living Lord who has delivered me from every danger," 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,
10 "when someone came and told me Saul was dead, thinking it was wonderful news, I seized that man and had him executed in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his so-called good news!" 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:
11 "So how much worse should it be when wicked men murder an innocent person in his own bed in his own home? Should I not hold you responsible and wipe you off the face of the earth?" 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?
12 David ordered his soldiers to execute Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and displayed their bodies at the pool in Hebron. They took Ish-bosheth's head and buried it respectfully in Abner's tomb in Hebron. 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 Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.