Ish-Bosheth’s Death
4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron, ·he was shocked [he lost his courage; L his hands grew limp] and all Israel ·became frightened [was alarmed/dismayed]. 2 ·Two men who were captains in Saul’s army came to Ish-Bosheth [Saul’s son had two leaders of raiding parties]. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. 3 The people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim, and they still live there as ·foreigners [resident aliens] today.)
4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was ·crippled [lame] in both feet. He was five years old when the ·news [report] came from Jezreel ·that Saul and Jonathan were dead [about Saul and Jonathan]. Mephibosheth’s nurse had picked him up and run away. But as she hurried to leave, she dropped him, and now he was lame.)
5 Recab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-Bosheth’s house in the ·afternoon [L heat of the day] while he was taking ·a nap [his midday rest]. They went into the middle of the house as if to get some wheat. Ish-Bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom. Then Recab and Baanah ·stabbed [L struck] him in the stomach, killed him, cut off his head, and took it with them. They escaped and traveled all night through the ·Jordan Valley [L Arabah]. 8 When they arrived at Hebron, they ·gave [brought] his head to David and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy. He ·tried to kill you [sought your life]! Today the Lord has ·paid back [given my lord the king revenge on] Saul and his ·family [offspring; descendants; L seed] for what they did to you!”
9 David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, “As surely as the Lord lives, he has ·saved [L ransomed; redeemed] me from all ·trouble [danger; adversity; or my enemies]! 10 Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, ‘Saul is dead!’ I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news [1:1–16]! 11 ·So even more I must [L How much more must I…?] put you evil men to death because you have killed an ·innocent [righteous] man on his own bed in his own house!”
12 So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. They cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hung ·them [their bodies] ·over [beside] the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s ·tomb [grave] at Hebron.