5 And the sons H1121 of Rimmon H7417 the Beerothite, H886 Rechab H7394 and Baanah, H1196 went, H3212 and came H935 about the heat H2527 of the day H3117 to the house H1004 of Ishbosheth, H378 who lay H7901 on a bed H4904 at noon. H6672
Yet a little H4592 sleep, H8142 a little H4592 slumber, H8572 a little H4592 folding H2264 of the hands H3027 to sleep: H7901 So shall thy poverty H7389 come H935 as one that travelleth; H1980 and thy want H4270 as an armed H4043 man. H376
For G1063 when G3752 they shall say, G3004 Peace G1515 and G2532 safety; G803 then G5119 sudden G160 destruction G3639 cometh upon G2186 them, G846 as G5618 travail G5604 upon G1722 a woman with child; G1064 G2192 and G2532 they shall G1628 not G3364 escape. G1628 But G1161 ye, G5210 brethren, G80 are G2075 not G3756 in G1722 darkness, G4655 that G2443 that day G2250 should overtake G2638 you G5209 as G5613 a thief. G2812 Ye G5210 are G2075 all G3956 the children G5207 of light, G5457 and G2532 the children G5207 of the day: G2250 we are G2070 not G3756 of the night, G3571 nor G3761 of darkness. G4655 Therefore G686 G3767 let us G2518 not G3361 sleep, G2518 as G5613 G2532 do others; G3062 but G235 let us watch G1127 and G2532 be sober. G3525 For G1063 they that sleep G2518 sleep G2518 in the night; G3571 and G2532 they that be drunken G3182 are drunken G3184 in the night. G3571
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 4
Commentary on 2 Samuel 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
2Sa 4:1, 2. Baanah and Rechab Slay Ish-bosheth, and Bring His Head to Hebron.
4. Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet—This is mentioned as a reason why, according to Oriental notions, he was considered unfit for exercising the duties of sovereignty.
5, 6. Rechab and Baanah went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, &c.—It is still a custom in the East to allow their soldiers a certain quantity of corn, together with some pay; and these two captains very naturally went to the palace the day before to fetch wheat, in order to distribute it to the soldiers, that it might be sent to the mill at the accustomed hour in the morning.
7. when they came into the house, he lay on his bed—Rechab and Baanah came in the heat of the day, when they knew that Ish-bosheth, their master, would be resting on his divan; and as it was necessary, for the reason just given, to have the corn the day before it was needed, their coming at that time, though it might be a little earlier than usual, created no suspicion, and attracted no notice [Harmer].
gat them away through the plain—that is, the valley of the Jordan, through which their way lay from Mahanaim to Hebron.
8. They brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David … and said, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth—Such bloody trophies of rebels and conspirators have always been acceptable to princes in the East, and the carriers have been liberally rewarded. Ish-bosheth being a usurper, the two assassins thought they were doing a meritorious service to David by removing the only existing obstacle to the union of the two kingdoms.
2Sa 4:10-12. David Causes Them to Be Put to Death.
12. slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet—as the instruments in perpetrating their crime. The exposure of the mutilated remains was intended as not only a punishment of their crime, but also the attestation of David's abhorrence.