2 Samuel 4 Study Notes

4:1 News of Abner’s death reached Ish-bosheth, who gave up because Ish-bosheth had now lost his strongest general. Probably all Israel who had supported him were dismayed because they feared reprisal following a victory by David that now appeared certain.

4:2-3 As leaders of raiding parties, Baanah and Rechab performed a role for Ish-bosheth that was similar to what Abishai and Joab did for David (3:22).

4:4 Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan, would find favor with David during David’s reign (9:1-10).

4:5-6 These two men entered the interior of Ish-bosheth’s house, something that might not have been unusual for trusted officers (v. 2).

4:7 Baanah and Rechab beheaded Ish-bosheth because they wanted proof of his death for David. By way of the Arabah took them through the Jordan Valley, the quickest and most direct route to Hebron about fifty miles southwest. They hoped they might receive a reward for eliminating David’s rival, Saul’s son.

4:8 With their words, Today the Lord has granted vengeance, Baanah and Rechab credited God with their act of murder.

4:9-10 David reminded the two assassins of the death of the Amalekite messenger who claimed to have killed King Saul (1:6-10).

4:11 David contrasted the character of Baanah and Rechab with Ish-bosheth, whom he called a righteous man. The words in his own house on his own bed suggested they had committed a cowardly, cold-blooded act (cp. 3:26-30).

4:12 After having the killers executed, David commanded his men to cut off the hands that had committed the murder and feet that had run to bring the news of the murder to David. Ish-bosheth’s head was placed in Abner’s tomb in Hebron, uniting him with family in death but also perhaps subtly identifying him with Judah (3:32).