The Murder of Ish-bosheth

1Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul (desired) heard that Abner (my father is a lamp) had died in Hebron (association), he lost courage, and all Israel (he wrestles with God) was dismayed. 2Saul’s (desired) son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah (in affliction) and the other Rechab (rider); they were sons of Rimmon (pomegranate) the Beerothite (wells) of the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand)—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the Beerothites (wells) fled to Gittaim (two winepresses) and have lived there as foreigners to this day.

4And Jonathan (YHWH has given) son of Saul (desired) had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel (God sows). His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol).

5Now Rechab (rider) and Baanah (in affliction), the sons of Rimmon (pomegranate) the Beerothite (wells), set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth (man of shame) in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. 6They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab (rider) and his brother Baanah (in affliction) slipped away.

7They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8They brought the head of Ish-bosheth (man of shame) to David (beloved) at Hebron (association) and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul (desired), your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD {YHWH} has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

The Execution of Rechab and Baanah

9But David (beloved) answered Rechab (rider) and his brother Baanah (in affliction), the sons of Rimmon (pomegranate) the Beerothite (wells), “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul (desired) is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag (winding). That was his reward for his news! 11How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your⁺ hands and remove you⁺ from the earth!”

12So David (beloved) commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron (association), but they took the head of Ish-bosheth (man of shame) and buried it in Abner’s (my father is a lamp) tomb in Hebron.