2 Samuel 4:12
2 Samuel 4:12 in Multiple Translations
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.
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 Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
And David gave orders to his young men and they put them to death, cutting off their hands and their feet and hanging them up by the side of the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and put it in its last resting-place with Abner's body in Hebron.
David gave the order to his men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They chopped off their hands and feet, and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's grave in Hebron.
Then Dauid commanded his yong men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feete, and hanged them vp ouer the poole in Hebron: but they tooke the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
And David commandeth the young men, and they slay them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hang [them] over the pool in Hebron, and the head of Ish-Bosheth they have taken, and bury [it] in the burying-place of Abner in Hebron.
David commanded his young men, and they killed them, cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in Abner’s grave in Hebron.
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron.
And David commanded his servants and they slew them: and cutting off their hands and feet, hanged them up over the pool in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they took and buried in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Then, following David’s orders, his soldiers killed the two men, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hung their bodies (OR, their hands and feet) on a pole near the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it respectfully in the tomb of Abner, there at Hebron.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 4:12
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2 Samuel 4:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 4:12
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 4:12
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 4:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 4:12
Context — The Execution of Rechab and Baanah
12So 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.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 1:15 | Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 3:32 | When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. |
| 3 | Matthew 7:2 | For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 21:9 | And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 21:22–23 | If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. |
| 6 | Psalms 55:23 | But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You. |
2 Samuel 4:12 Summary
This verse shows us that David was a man who took justice and righteousness very seriously, and he was willing to take action to uphold these values, even if it was difficult or unpopular (2 Samuel 4:11). He had Rechab and Baanah killed because they had murdered Ish-bosheth, and he buried Ish-bosheth's head in Abner's tomb as a sign of respect and honor. This teaches us that God is a God of justice and righteousness, and that He expects us to live our lives in a way that reflects these values (Psalm 37:28). By trusting in God's sovereignty and provision, we can have the courage to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity or opposition (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did David have Rechab and Baanah killed?
David had them killed because they had murdered Ish-bosheth, a righteous man, in his own house and on his own bed, which is a grave injustice (2 Samuel 4:11). This act was a violation of the trust and respect due to a king, and David saw it as his responsibility to avenge Ish-bosheth's death (Deuteronomy 19:11-13).
What is the significance of cutting off their hands and feet?
The cutting off of their hands and feet was a public display of their guilt and shame, as well as a warning to others who would consider committing similar atrocities (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). This act also served as a visible reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of upholding justice.
Why did David bury Ish-bosheth's head in Abner's tomb?
David buried Ish-bosheth's head in Abner's tomb as a sign of respect and honor for the king, as well as a demonstration of his commitment to uphold the dignity of the office of king, even in death (2 Samuel 3:31-39). This act also highlights David's desire to show kindness and compassion, even to those who may have been his enemies (Proverbs 25:21-22).
What can we learn from David's response to the death of Ish-bosheth?
We can learn that God is a God of justice and righteousness, and that He expects us to uphold these values in our lives (Psalm 37:28, Micah 6:8). David's response also shows us the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and being accountable for the consequences of our sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:9).
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can uphold justice and righteousness in my own life, and how can I be a reflection of God's character to those around me?
- How can I balance the need for justice and accountability with the need for mercy and compassion, and what role does forgiveness play in this balance?
- What are some ways that I can demonstrate respect and honor for those in authority over me, even if I disagree with them or they have wronged me in some way?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even in the midst of difficult or uncertain circumstances, and what role does faith play in this trust?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 4:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 4:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 4:12
Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 4:12
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 4:12
Sermons on 2 Samuel 4:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Sacrifice That Is Pleasing to God by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of God's second chance. He highlights that after death, there is no second chance, but in life, God gives us the opportunity to c |
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Be a Blessing by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the promises made by God to Abraham in Genesis. The four promises mentioned are: making Abraham into a great nation, blessing him, making his |
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Beatitudes - Part 7 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker recounts a conversation with a woman named Mrs. Crook who shares some distressing news. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God and trustin |
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When You Pray by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of prayer and the kingdom of God. He begins by sharing a parable from Matthew 18, where Jesus illustrates the concept of forg |
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The Day of Judgment by Aaron Dunlop | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the judgment of God and its various aspects. The first aspect is the event of the judgment, which is referred to as the day of the Lord. The s |
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(Obadiah) How God Deals With Pride by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the downfall of a proud and fortified nation. He emphasizes that despite their confidence in their defenses, God declares that they will be s |
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Mid South Conference 1982-08 Luke 9:25 by Lew Clarkson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the shortness of time and the importance of using it wisely. He highlights the fact that the average lifespan is only two billion seconds, an |







