Summary: Ish-Bosheth depended on Abner, so he lost courage when he heard that Abner had died (v.1). Two raiders—Baanah and Rechab—sneak into Ish-Bosheth’s house and kill him in his sleep (v.6), decapitating him (v.7). They probably were seeing that David was rising to power, and they were on the wrong side of the political fence. They bring the head to David (v.8), and he rebukes them for killing Ish-Bosheth. He then orders that they have their hands and feet cut off (v.12). He has them hung beside the pool of Hebron for everyone to see.
(4:1) Even though Abner was a traitor to Ish-Bosheth, Abner was still Ish-Bosheth’s most powerful warrior. Abner left a “power vacuum”[] in Israel. This is why “he lost courage.” The word spread to all of Israel that their top military commander had been killed, so this wouldn’t have been good for Ish-Bosheth’s public image.
(4:2-3) Ish-Bosheth’s other two military allies (Baanah and Rechab) got spooked, and they fled from the kingdom like rats fleeing a sinking ship. The phrase “commanders of bands” refers to “raiders” or “a band of rebels” (cf. 1 Kings 11:24).[] These men were outlaws who worked for the king.
(4:4) This is a flashback to the time of Jonathan’s death. Why does the author insert this here? Because Ish-Bosheth is about to die, Mephibosheth would’ve been the next heir to the throne. The author is probably showing that the boy’s physical handicap renders him unable to inherit the kingdom as a warrior.[] Mephibosheth would’ve been twelve years old when Ish-Bosheth was killed (cf. 2 Sam. 2:11).
Jonathan’s son (Mephibosheth) was just a young boy when his father died. In fleeing, he became even further crippled. He will come up again in 2 Samuel 9; 16:1-4; 19:24-30; 21:7).
(4:5-6) Baanah and Rechab assassinate Ish-Bosheth, realizing that they are on the wrong side of the battle. Being stabbed in the stomach becomes the preferred method of execution at this time.
(4:7-8) Baanah and Rechab took Ish-Bosheth’s decapitated head to David as a way of making peace with him, and showing loyalty to the new dynasty. They travel “at night” to avoid being seen.
(4:9-11) We saw how David treated the Amalekite who killed Saul earlier, so this reaction is not surprising.
(4:12) David makes a public spectacle of the men, but he carefully buries Ish-Bosheth’s head alongside Abner. This act of cutting of the hands and feet is similar to the disgrace given to Adoni-Bezek (Judg. 1:6).
Again, we need to ask the question: Why is David so strict about men not killing God’s anointed? (i.e. Ish-Bosheth or Saul)
We see a repeated theme that God will work out the problems. When we put it into our own hands (killing Saul or Ish-Bosheth), this is wrong. We need to trust in the sovereignty of God. For discussion, we might ask, “What is the difference between trusting in God’s sovereignty, and being super-spiritual or lazy?”
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 844.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 844.
Ronald F. Youngblood, “1, 2 Samuel,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), 844.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
