Bible Study on 2 Samuel 4

Bible Study on 2 Samuel 4

As shared by Rev. Don Schink

Ish-Bosheth Murdered:

1 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Now Saul's son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Recab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin-Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have lived there as aliens to this day.

4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

5 Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7 They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8 They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to take your life. This day the LORD has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."

9 David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of all trouble, 10 when a man told me, 'Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11 How much more-when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed-should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!"

12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.


Ish-Bosheth's Murder:


The challenges of war were nothing new to David. There were times of victory. There were times of loss and extreme disappointments. Just like in our own hearts and lives, we experience precious times. We also experience various losses and extreme disappointments. We see David at his best. We see David at his worst. We see God's hand in guiding the various situations regarding biblical history.

Today's Scripture deals with the continued ravages of war. Abner's death had brought about confusion and consternation amongst the people of Israel as well as to Ish-Bosheth [1]. Two of Saul's company commanders, Baanah and Rechab, the sons of Rimmon [2] of the tribe of Benjamin, were distraught. They decided to take matters into their own hands. Their hometown of Beeroth had apparently been destroyed by this time. Its inhabitants had fled to Gittaim [3], which was also located in Benjamin.

Here we see the account of how Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, had been crippled since he was five years old. His nurse had dropped him as she fled with him as news reached her of the rousting of Israel's army and Saul and Jonathan's deaths [9:1-13]. Mephibosheth's physical condition is described here to explain why Saul didn't have other descendants in line for the throne.

The two men schemed to get to Ish-Bosheth on the false pretense of delivering wheat. So they went to his house in the heat of the day. They found him resting on his bed and violently attacked him. They stabbed him to death and cut off his head [7]. Then taking the head, they traveled all night to David in Hebron. They obviously expected to be rewarded for eliminating David's opposition [8].

David's response was a quick reaction. His response was even sharper than when the news came to him by the Amalekite young man concerning Saul's death. He reminded these two brothers about that [9-10; 1:14-16].

What they failed to realize was just how upset that this would make David. His reaction was strong because they had just murdered an innocent man in his own house on his own bed [11]. So David ordered their swift execution! Then Ish-Bosheth's head was buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron.


Questions for Reflection:

How did David face such extreme challenges of his day?

Where did he obtain such confidence?

What was David’s response to such injustice as this murder of Ish-boseth?

What made the messengers think that their news would be met with a positive response?

As a leader, David relied on what in making swift and decisive decisions?

What do we do when forced to make quick and decisive decisions?

What do we see here regarding the fruits of one’s actions?

What are we to do to avoid judgment and displeasure?

As we pray today:

What does this account reveal to us, today?

How does it speak to our own hearts and lives?

How are we to interpret today’s lessons in conjunction with how we live our own lives and in our outreach to others?

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Since Update on January 2, 2005