2 Samuel 4:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

Complete Jewish Bible:

They brought the head of Ish-Boshet to David in Hevron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul your enemy, who wanted to take your life. Today ADONAI has taken revenge on Sha'ul and his son for the sake of my lord the king."

Berean Standard Bible:

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 sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

American Standard Version:

And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; and Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they brought^{H935} the head^{H7218} of Ishbosheth^{H378} unto David^{H1732} to Hebron^{H2275}, and said^{H559} to the king^{H4428}, Behold the head^{H7218} of Ishbosheth^{H378} the son^{H1121} of Saul^{H7586} thine enemy^{H341}, which sought^{H1245} thy life^{H5315}; and the LORD^{H3068} hath^{H5414} avenged^{H5360} my lord^{H113} the king^{H4428} this day^{H3117} of Saul^{H7586}, and of his seed^{H2233}.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 4:8

2 Samuel 4:8 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the tumultuous transition of power from the house of Saul to the house of David in ancient Israel. The historical context is set against the backdrop of a protracted conflict between the forces loyal to David and those loyal to the remnants of Saul's dynasty, represented by Ishbosheth (also known as Ishbaal), Saul's surviving son.

In this verse, two men, the sons of Rimmon, bring the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, where David has been reigning as king over Judah. They present this gruesome trophy as evidence of their loyalty and as an act of vengeance against Saul's line, which had previously sought David's life. By presenting Ishbosheth's head, they claim to have avenged David not only against Saul but also against his progeny, suggesting a closure to the rivalry that had caused much strife and bloodshed.

The themes present in this verse include the brutality of ancient warfare and politics, where the death of an opponent was a common and often celebrated outcome. It also touches on the complex dynamics of loyalty and treachery, as the assassins seek favor with David by eliminating his rival. Furthermore, the verse reflects the ongoing divine drama in which the assassins attribute their actions to the Lord's will, implying that David's ascendancy and the downfall of Saul's house are divinely ordained.

However, David's response to this act, as recorded in the subsequent verses, reveals his respect for the anointed of the Lord and his rejection of such wanton violence. He condemns the assassins for killing an innocent man in his own house and has them executed, demonstrating his commitment to justice and the rule of law, even towards his enemies. This event thus serves as a stark contrast between David's leadership and the chaotic violence that characterized the end of Saul's reign, setting the stage for David's eventual unification of Israel under his kingship.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7218
   There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֹאשׁ
   Transliteration: rôʼsh
   Pronunciation: roshe
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
   
3. Strong's Number: H378
   There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת
   Transliteration: ʼÎysh-Bôsheth
   Pronunciation: eesh-bo'-sheth
   Description: from אִישׁ and בֹּשֶׁת; man of shame; Ish-Bosheth, a son of King Saul; Ish-bosheth.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2275
   There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֶבְרוֹן
   Transliteration: Chebrôwn
   Pronunciation: kheb-rone'
   Description: from חֶבֶר; seat of association; Chebron, a place in Palestine, also the name of two Israelites; Hebron.
   
6. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7586
   There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁאוּל
   Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
   Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
   Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
   
10. Strong's Number: H341
    There are 481 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֹיֵב
    Transliteration: ʼôyêb
    Pronunciation: o-yabe'
    Description: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe.
    
11. Strong's Number: H1245
    There are 215 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּקַשׁ
    Transliteration: bâqash
    Pronunciation: baw-kash'
    Description: a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
    
12. Strong's Number: H5315
    There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
    Transliteration: nephesh
    Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
    Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
    
14. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
15. Strong's Number: H5360
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נְקָמָה
    Transliteration: nᵉqâmâh
    Pronunciation: nek-aw-maw'
    Description: feminine of נָקָם; avengement, whether the act of the passion; [phrase] avenge, revenge(-ing), vengeance.
    
16. Strong's Number: H113
    There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָדוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
    Pronunciation: aw-done'
    Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
    
17. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
    
18. Strong's Number: H2233
    There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זֶרַע
    Transliteration: zeraʻ
    Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
    Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.