2 Samuel 4
-This chapter describes the events of Ish-bosheth’s murder
two years after he had succeeded his father Saul as king over Israel (2 Samuel
2:10). When Ish-bosheth heard about the developments with Abner’s death in
Hebron, he lost all courage and all Israel was disturbed. Among the remaining
commanders of bands, Baanah and Rechab, who were brothers, plotted at this
pivotal time to kill the fragile king. In an important aside, the text also
informs us briefly of Mephibosheth, who was a crippled (from a fall early in
his life) son of Jonathan’s. He was five years old when the report came from
Jezreel of his father’s death along with King Saul, his grandfather. His nurse at
that time took him up and fled for safety in a hurried rush. This is when
Mephibosheth’s falling accident occurred where he became lame (2 Samuel 4:1-4).
-Anyway, the text returns to the rebellious plans of Baanah
and Rechab as they went to the house of Ish-bosheth. At midday, when the king
was taking his rest, the brothers came into the middle of his house as if to
get wheat, went to the bedroom, and assassinated their king by striking him in
his belly. Then they beheaded him and escaped. They took the head of
Ish-bosheth and went by the way of the Arabah all night to Hebron where they
presented proudly their accomplishment to the Judean King David. They
purported, “Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who
sought your life; thus the LORD has given my lord the king vengeance this day
on Saul and his descendants.” David’s reply was unostentatious and reviling, “As
the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, when one told me,
saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead.’ and thought he was brining good news, I seized
him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news (2 Samuel 1:1-16). How much
more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed,
shall I not now require his blood from your hand and destroy you from the
earth?” David then had them killed at the hands of his young servants in his
army. Their hands and feet were cut off, and they were hung up beside the pool
in Hebron. As for the head of Ish-bosheth, that had been presented to them
auspiciously, it was buried in honor in the grave of Abner there in Hebron (2
Samuel 4:5-12).
-*Application* David again presents us with a code of honor
that is respectable and worthy of imitation. He truly meant things from his
heart when he supported the anointed line of the LORD in regards to Saul and
his descendants. He kept his word to his friend (1 Samuel 20:42). He saw with
discernment the bigger picture and was not afraid to let God truly fight his
own battles with patience and righteousness. Anything that interfered with
that, he opposed vigorously. He was not lured by the temptation for
self-gratification and human vengeance, nor should we. The LORD is our only
Redeemer from all of our distress.
Verses to Memorize:
2 Samuel 4:9-11
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