seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Samuel 4:1 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 Rekab; 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 resided there as foreigners 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 disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)
5 Now Rekab 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 Rekab 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 kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 10 when someone 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.
Here's the link to the commentary I use.He lost heart: When Ishbosheth heard that the man who put and propped him on the throne was dead, he knew that his day was almost over. He trusted in man to gain his position, so when the man was gone, he knew his position would be soon gone. Ishbosheth was weak because he trusted in man.
His name was Mephibosheth: This was the son of Jonathan, David’s good friend who died with his father on the field of battle. Mephibosheth was the last male descendant of Saul with a strong legal claim to the throne of Saul. At this time he was only 12 years old — and he was lame.
As she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame: Mephibosheth was weak because of circumstances beyond his control. He was weak because of his age and because of injury that came from the hand of another.
Beheaded him and took his head: This was an important part of their plan, because they wanted to prove to David that they murdered his rival to the throne.
David commanded his young men, and they executed them: David swiftly made an example of these murderous men. They were not soldiers fighting together with him; they were murderers who deserved just punishment.
Honestly, the first thought that came to me while reading these verses was, "Off with their heads!" David didn't want Ish-Bosheth murdered. He was loyal to Saul and the family of Saul.
David didn't want the head of Ish-Bosheth any more than he wanted the head of Saul to be popped on a stick and propped against his body.
David respected Saul and Ish-Bosheth. Saul was chosen by God to be the first king. Ish-Bosheth was his son, who was thrown on the throne by Saul's commander of the Army. David didn't want them dead. David had no use for another head. The one on his own shoulders was enough.
This is from "got questions".
There are many beheadings recorded in the Bible. Beheading was a common manner of execution in ancient cultures. Beheading one’s enemy was a way to announce a complete victory over him. Displaying the severed head of an enemy left no doubt in anyone’s mind that this enemy was no longer a threat.
David had these two men executed because they killed an innocent man. Ish-Bosheth was Saul's son. Ish-Bosheth didn't do anything to cause him to be murdered. Those men only wanted to up their station in life. They cut off Ish-Bosheth's head so they could deliver it to David for a reward. They thought David would promote them or pay them huge amounts of shiney Ducketts.
That's why David had their hands and feet cut off. Their hands committed the murder of Ish-Bosheth. Their feet carried them to David where they tried to cash in on the dirty deed they did dirt cheap.
David knew there were plenty more who would try to kill someone and deliver the proof to king David. So he had their bodies [sans hands and feet] hanged at the pools so everyone could see.
This was a warning.
This was to terrify people.
Now please look at verse 4. Jonathan had a son!!!!
Ruth's grandson David doesn't know about Saul's grandson, Mephibosheth .... Yet!
Off with their heads... and hands and feet....
Chop 'em up! Off with their heads!
