Midday heat at Mahanaim in the wooded hills of Gilead: a flat-roofed fieldstone house among oaks, its wooden door standing half open onto a dark interior, a sack of grain slumped by the doorway, no one in sight, heat haze on the hills under a white-hot pale sky.

The Book of

2 Samuel 4

With Abner dead, Saul’s son loses heart. Two of his own captains come to his house at noon, and then to David, sure of a reward.

12 verses≈ 3 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–4King in HebronThe house of Saul fallsChapter 4
5–6JerusalemThe ark comes home
7–10A house foreverGod's promise to David
11–12David's sinBathsheba and Nathan
13–20The swordAmnon, Absalom and Sheba
21–24Last wordsSongs, heroes and an altar

The Murder of Ish-bosheth

Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed.

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Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.

His name was Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 4:4

Reflect

Easy to overlook

In the middle of a story of ambition and murder, the writer stops to name a lame child no one would count: “His name was Mephibosheth.” Who in your world is easy to overlook? Write down their name, and one way to show them kindness this week.

Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.

They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

Pray

Clean hands

Rechab and Baanah wrapped a murder in the LORD’s name: “Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king.” Ask God to keep you from ever using His name to bless your own ambition. Ask Him to keep your hands clean when a shortcut is offered, and to give you patience to wait for His time.

The Execution of Rechab and Baanah

Noon in the gateway of Hebron: David has risen from his stone seat and stands with one hand raised toward heaven in an oath, his face stern; two rough, dusty men bow low before him with empty hands, and elders on the stone benches lean back, appalled.

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!

0:19

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

Not by David’s hand

Whiteboard

Three times someone hands David a rival’s death, and three times he refuses it. An Amalekite brought Saul’s crown; Joab killed Abner in the gate; Rechab and Baanah brought the head of Ish-bosheth, sure that “the LORD has granted vengeance.” David’s answer was the same each time. The kingdom will come from the LORD, not by blood.

Question

Quick question

In the middle of the story of Ish-bosheth’s fall, the writer stops to tell us about Jonathan’s son.

How old was Mephibosheth when he became lame?

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2 Samuel 4

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A verse to carry with you

And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 4:4

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