2 Samuel 4

2 Samuel 4:1

4:1-7 Abner’s death weakened the kingdom of Ishbosheth still further. As soon as the army had lost its powerful leader, two rebels rose upBaanah and . . . Rechaband assassinated the king. They were able to do this by entering the house while Ishbosheth was taking his siesta. They pretended that they had come to pick up some wheat. The RSV of verse 6, following the Septuagint, reads, “And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept; so Rechab and Baanah his brother slipped in.” This left only one male heir to the throne of Saul, a crippled lad by the name of Mephibosheth. 4:8-12 Rechab and Baanah brought the head of Ishbosheth to David in hopes of winning his favor. These wicked men tried to suggest that the LORD had prompted their action. But David knew better than that! God would not lead men to break His law in order to enthrone His king. God was well able to fulfill His promises to David without enlisting the aid of murderers. David told them that they were more guilty than the one who claimed to have murdered Saul, and ordered them to be slain immediately. Their bodies were exposed to the shame of public display, while the head of Ishbosheth was honorably buried in the tomb of Abner.