1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 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 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

4 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.

5 And 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.

6 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 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 And 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.

9 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 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 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 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.

Commentary

Verse 1

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
McArther Bible Commentary
lost heart … troubled. Lit. "his hands became weak or limp" (cf. 2Sa 17:2; 2Ch 15:7). Ishbosheth and all of Israel realized that Abner had been the source of strength and stability for Israel. With Abner dead, Israel was troubled because Ishbosheth no longer had a leader for the army which secured him in power.
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 3:27 Ezra 4:4

Verse 2

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
McArther Bible Commentary
children of Benjamin. It is emphasized that these men were of the tribe of Benjamin (2Sa 4:2-3), perhaps to show the friction within the house of Saul and his son Ishbosheth, and how the grab for power began once Abner was gone.
Bible Cross References
Joshua 9:17 Joshua 18:25 2 Samuel 4:5 2 Samuel 4:9 2 Samuel 23:37

Verse 3

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
Bible Cross References
Nehemiah 11:33 2 Samuel 4:4

Verse 4

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Jonathan had a son - This history is inserted as that which encouraged these men to this wicked murder, because Saul's family was now reduced to a low ebb; and if Isbosheth was dispatched, there would be none left, but a lame child, who was altogether unfit to manage the kingdom, and therefore the crown must necessarily come to David by their act and deed; for which they promised themselves no small recompense. Jezreel - The place of that last and fatal fight.
McArther Bible Commentary
Mephibosheth. He may be introduced here to demonstrate that his youth and physical handicap disqualified him from being considered for ruling Israel. He would have been only twelve years old at the time of Ishbosheth's death. For the history of this man, see 2Sa 9:6-13; 2Sa 16:1-4; 2Sa 19:24-30; 2Sa 21:7.
Bible Cross References
1 Samuel 31:1 2 Samuel 9:3 2 Samuel 9:6 2 Samuel 21:7 1 Chronicles 8:34 1 Chronicles 9:40

Verse 5

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
McArther Bible Commentary
It was the custom to secure wheat for the soldiers under their command (2Sa 4:2), along with some pay. Under the pretense of that normal routine, they came and killed the king.
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 4:2

Verse 6

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Fetched wheat - Which was laid up in publick granaries in the king's house, and was fetched thence by the captains and commanders of the army for the pay of their soldiers, who, in those ancient times were not paid in money, but in corn. Upon this pretence they were admitted into the house, and so went from room to room, to the place where the king lay.
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 2:23 2 Samuel 4:2

Verse 7

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
Ishbosheth murdered.
See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come.
McArther Bible Commentary
the plain. To avoid easy detection, the men traveled by way of the Arabah (cf. 2Sa 2:29), i.e., the Jordan Valley. This plain extended about thirty miles from Mahanaim to Hebron.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 8:3 2 Samuel 2:29

Verse 8

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
David puts to death the murderers.
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
McArther Bible Commentary
the Lord has avenged. The murderers of Ishbosheth came to David and proclaimed, "the Lord has avenged" David. However, as happened earlier to the Amalekite (2Sa 1:2-15), the men were very surprised at the response of David. David did not see their deed as the Lord's vengeance, but as murder of an innocent man.
Bible Cross References
1 Samuel 24:4 1 Samuel 25:29 2 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 22:48

Verse 9

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
David puts to death the murderers.
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
McArther Bible Commentary
the Lord … has redeemed my life from all adversity. A striking contrast is shown between David and the two murderers who claimed they were performing the Lord's work by killing Ishbosheth. However, David praised the Lord for His providential work through Ishbosheth's life and proclaimed the Lord's deliverance; thus, David condemned the murderers of Ishbosheth and had them executed as he had done to the man who claimed to kill Saul (2Sa 1:15-16).
Bible Cross References
Genesis 48:16 2 Samuel 4:2 1 Kings 1:29 Psalm 31:7 Psalm 69:18

Verse 10

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
David puts to death the murderers.
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 1:2 2 Samuel 1:4 2 Samuel 1:15

Verse 11

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
David puts to death the murderers.
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 9:5 2 Samuel 16:8 Psalm 9:12

Verse 12

Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary
David puts to death the murderers.
A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to crown and complete his own work. He speaks of his redemption from all adversity, as a thing done; though he had many storms yet before him, he knew that He who had delivered, would deliver.
John Wesley's Bible Commentary
David commanded. &c.But what a disappointment to Baanah and Rechab, was the sentence which David passed upon them! And such they will meet with, who think to serve the Son of David, by cruelty or injustice: who under colour of religion, outrage or murder of their brethren, think they do God service. However men may now canonize such methods of serving the church and the catholic cause, Christ will let them know another day, that Christianity was not designed to destroy humanity. And they who thus think to merit heaven, shall not escape the damnation of hell.
Bible Cross References
2 Samuel 1:15 2 Samuel 2:8 2 Samuel 3:32 2 Samuel 16:8