2 Samuel 4:1–7

Ish-bosheth Murdered

1 Now when 1Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that aAbner had died in Hebron, 2bhe lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed.

2 Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of bands: the name of the one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for aBeeroth is also considered bpart of Benjamin,

3 and the Beerothites fled to aGittaim and have been aliens there until this day).

4 Now aJonathan, Saul’s son, had a son crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the breport of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame. And his name was 1cMephibosheth.

5 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of aIsh-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.

6 1They came to the middle of the house as 2if to get wheat, and athey struck him in the belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 Now when they came into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him and beheaded him. And they took his head and 1atraveled by way of the Arabah all night.