2 Samuel 4

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

2 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,

3 because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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.

7 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.

8 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.”

9 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,

10 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!

11 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!”

12 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.

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.

1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were loosed, and all Israel were afraid.

2 And there were two men captains over the warriors among the sons of Saul; the name of the one was Baena, and the name of the other Rechob, sons of Rimon the Berothite, of the children of Benjamin. For Beroth also was reckoned among Benjamin. - ·

3 And the Berothites fled to Gethaim, and were strangers there unto this day.

4 And Jonathan the son of Saul had a son that was lame of his feet: and he was five years old when the cry of Saul and Jonathan came out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and as she hasted and fled, he fell, and went lame: and his name was Mephibosheth.

5 So the sons of Rimon the Berothite, Rechob and Baena, went, and came to the house of Ishbosheth, when the day was hottest; and he lay in his bed at noon.

6 And they came into the house to take wheat: and they pricked him in the stomach, and escaped.

7 For when they were come into the house, he lay upon his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him dead, and cut off his head, and took his head, and went by the way of the plain all night.

8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said unto the king, Behold, the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, thine enemy, which strove after thy soul: the LORD hath smelled my lord the king this day upon Saul, and upon his seed.

9 And David said unto them, As the LORD liveth, he hath delivered my soul out of all my affliction,

10 And I took him that told me, saying, Saul is dead, thinking that he was a good messenger: and I slew him in Ziklag, to whom I should give a messenger's fee.

11 And these wicked men slew a righteous man in his house upon his bed. Yea, shall I not require the blood of your hands, and do you out of 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 by the pool of Hebron. And they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in Abner's sepulchre at Hebron.