2 Samuel 4

V 1–3: MORBID Saul’s son, King Ishbosheth, at this stage appears not to have heard of Abner’s approach to David. He loses heart, and Israel is troubled at the news of the death of Abner, who, in practice, led Israel for Ishbosheth. If he knew of the murderous intentions of Baanah and Rechab, the sons of Rimmon, he would despair even more. V 4: MEPHIBOSHETH This account of the murder of Ishbosheth, along with what flows from it, reveals that Mephibosheth, one of Jonathan’s sons, was injured and lamed when fleeing as a five-year-old with his nurse. He fled on hearing of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. We will hear of Mephibosheth later. V 5–7: MURDER Rechab and Baanah murder and behead Ishbosheth while he is on his bed. V 8–12: MISUNDERSTANDING Thinking that David will commend them, they present the head of the son of Saul to David. David condemns them, reminds them that he executed the Amalekite who confessed to the killing of Saul, and reminds them of the wickedness of their act, in that Ishbosheth was a righteous man on his bed. He tells them that they will die for this. David has the two sons of Rimmon executed and Ishbosheth’s head buried in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.