2 Samuel 4:7

For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

For when they came {H935} into the house {H1004}, he lay {H7901} on his bed {H4296} in his bedchamber {H2315}{H4904}, and they smote {H5221} him, and slew {H4191} him, and beheaded {H5493} him, and took {H3947} his head {H7218}, and gat them away {H3212} through {H1870} the plain {H6160} all night {H3915}.

They entered the house as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, stabbed him and killed him; then they beheaded him, took his head and fled all night along the road through the 'Aravah.

They 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.

Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.

Commentary

2 Samuel 4:7 vividly describes the brutal assassination of Ish-bosheth, King Saul's son, by two of his own captains, Rechab and Baanah. This verse marks a pivotal and violent turning point in the transfer of power from Saul's declining house to David's emerging reign over all Israel.

Context

Following King Saul's death, the kingdom of Israel was divided. David had been anointed king over Judah in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4), while Abner, Saul's formidable army commander, had established Ish-bosheth as king over the remaining tribes of Israel (2 Samuel 2:8). Ish-bosheth's rule was inherently weak, and his position became even more precarious after Abner's death. Rechab and Baanah, brothers and captains of raiding bands, saw an opportunity to gain favor with David by eliminating his rival. They found Ish-bosheth vulnerable, resting on his bed during the heat of the day, and carried out this heinous act.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Treachery and Betrayal: The verse is a stark illustration of profound betrayal, as Ish-bosheth is murdered by those who were sworn to protect him. This highlights the deep moral corruption and political instability prevalent in the period.
  • The End of a Dynasty: Ish-bosheth's death signifies the definitive end of King Saul's direct lineage holding the throne of Israel. This tragic event ultimately clears the path for the undisputed reign of David, aligning with God's sovereign plan for David's kingship.
  • Violence and the Pursuit of Power: The brutal details of the assassination underscore the ruthless and often bloody methods employed in the ancient world to seize or consolidate power.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's direct and forceful language—"smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him"—emphasizes the extreme violence and finality of the act. The phrase "gat them away through the plain all night" conveys the urgency and stealth of the murderers as they fled under the cover of darkness, carrying the gruesome evidence of their deed.

Reflection and Application

While a dark episode in Israel's history, 2 Samuel 4:7 serves as a powerful reminder that true and righteous leadership is never established through violence, deceit, or opportunistic murder. David's response to this act, detailed in the subsequent verses (2 Samuel 4:9-12), unequivocally condemns such treachery. Just as David had swiftly punished the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul (2 Samuel 1:14-16), he would not tolerate those who sought to advance their own interests through bloodshed. Ultimately, even through such wicked human actions, God's sovereign plan to unite Israel under David's righteous rule continued to unfold.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 14:11 (2 votes)

    And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought [it] to her mother.

  • 2 Kings 10:6 (2 votes)

    Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye [be] mine, and [if] ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, [being] seventy persons, [were] with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

  • 2 Kings 10:7 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him [them] to Jezreel.

  • 1 Samuel 17:54 (2 votes)

    And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

  • Mark 6:28 (2 votes)

    And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

  • Mark 6:29 (2 votes)

    And when his disciples heard [of it], they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

  • 2 Samuel 2:29 (2 votes)

    And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.