2Samuel 4:11 - Prayer Tents

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

4When Saul's son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had been killed in Hebron, he was afraid, and all the people of Israel were alarmed.H7586H1121H8085H74H4191H2275H3027H7503H3478H926

2Ishbosheth had two officers who were leaders of raiding parties, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon, from Beeroth in the tribe of Benjamin. (Beeroth is counted as part of Benjamin.H7586H1121H1961H8147H582H8269H1416H8034H259H1196H8034H8145H7394H1121H7417H886H1121H1144H881H2803H1144

3Its original inhabitants had fled to Gittaim, where they have lived ever since.)H886H1272H1664H1481H3117

4Another descendant of Saul was Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who was five years old when Saul and Jonathan were killed. When the news about their death came from the city of Jezreel, his nurse picked him up and fled; but she was in such a hurry that she dropped him, and he became crippled.H3083H7586H1121H1121H5223H7272H2568H8141H1121H8052H935H7586H3083H3157H539H5375H5127H2648H5127H5307H6452H8034H4648

5Rechab and Baanah set out for Ishbosheth's house and arrived there about noon, while he was taking his midday rest.H1121H7417H886H7394H1196H3212H935H2527H3117H1004H378H7901H4904H6672

6The woman at the door had become drowsy while she was sifting wheat and had fallen asleep, so Rechab and Baanah slipped in.H935H8432H1004H3947H2406H5221H2570H7394H1196H251H4422

7Once inside, they went to Ishbosheth's bedroom, where he was sound asleep, and killed him. Then they cut off his head, took it with them, and walked all night through the Jordan Valley.H935H1004H7901H4296H2315H4904H5221H4191H5493H3947H7218H3212H1870H6160H3915

8They presented the head to King David at Hebron and said to him, "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul, who tried to kill you. Today the LORD has allowed Your Majesty to take revenge on Saul and his descendants."H935H7218H378H1732H2275H559H4428H7218H378H1121H7586H341H1245H5315H3068H5414H5360H113H4428H3117H7586H2233

9David answered them, "I take a vow by the living LORD, who has saved me from all dangers!H1732H6030H7394H1196H251H1121H7417H886H559H3068H2416H6299H5315H6869

10The messenger who came to me at Ziklag and told me of Saul's death thought he was bringing good news. I seized him and had him put to death. That was the reward I gave him for his good news!H5046H559H7586H4191H5869H1319H270H2026H6860H5414H1309

11How much worse it will be for evil men who murder an innocent man asleep in his own house! I will now take revenge on you for murdering him and will wipe you off the face of the earth!"H7563H582H2026H6662H376H1004H4904H1245H1818H3027H1197H776

12David gave the order, and his soldiers killed Rechab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet, which they hung up near the pool in Hebron. They took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb there at Hebron.H1732H6680H5288H2026H7112H3027H7272H8518H1295H2275H3947H7218H378H6912H6913H74H2275