2 Samuel 4:9

¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, [As] the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

And David {H1732} answered {H6030} Rechab {H7394} and Baanah {H1196} his brother {H251}, the sons {H1121} of Rimmon {H7417} the Beerothite {H886}, and said {H559} unto them, As the LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}, who hath redeemed {H6299} my soul {H5315} out of all adversity {H6869},

But David answered Rekhav and Ba'anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Be'eroti, "As ADONAI lives, who has rescued me from every kind of difficulty,

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

Commentary

2 Samuel 4:9 records King David's solemn declaration to Rechab and Baanah, who had assassinated Ish-bosheth, Saul's son and David's rival for the throne. Instead of rewarding them for eliminating an enemy, David condemns their act, emphasizing his reliance on God's divine justice and his own experience of God's faithful deliverance.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan, a power vacuum emerged in Israel. David was anointed king over Judah in Hebron, while Saul's general, Abner, set up Ish-bosheth (also called Ishbaal) as king over the rest of Israel. This led to a prolonged civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David. When Abner was assassinated, Ish-bosheth's position became precarious. Rechab and Baanah, two of Ish-bosheth's captains, saw an opportunity to gain favor with David by murdering their king while he slept and bringing his head to David. In the ancient Near East, such acts were often rewarded, but David's response here demonstrates his unique character and his adherence to God's law, particularly concerning the sanctity of life and respect for God's anointed.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice: David's swift condemnation of the assassins underscores his belief that justice belongs to God. He had previously executed the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul, showing his consistent stance against harming God's anointed or taking vengeance into one's own hands.
  • God's Deliverance: The core of David's oath, "who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity," highlights his personal testimony of God's constant protection and rescue. This phrase reflects David's many trials, including being relentlessly pursued by Saul, facing various enemies, and enduring personal hardships. It's a declaration of God's faithfulness in his life.
  • David's Character: This verse reveals David's moral integrity and his spiritual depth. Unlike opportunistic rulers, David refused to sanction murder, even when it benefited him politically. His actions were guided by his reverence for God and His law, demonstrating qualities of a king after God's own heart.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "As the LORD liveth" (Hebrew: Chai Yahweh) is a powerful and common oath in the Old Testament, signifying the speaker's absolute certainty and invoking God as the ultimate witness and guarantor of truth. The word "redeemed" (Hebrew: padah) here carries the sense of being delivered, rescued, or set free from danger or bondage. It speaks to God's active intervention to preserve David's life and soul through all his tribulations, not necessarily in the theological sense of atonement for sin, but as divine preservation from physical harm and overwhelming circumstances. David's life was a testament to God's continuous padah from his enemies and difficulties.

Practical Application

This verse reminds believers that God is the ultimate source of deliverance and justice. In times of adversity, we can echo David's confidence, trusting that God "redeems our soul" from whatever challenges we face, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. It also challenges us to maintain integrity and seek God's justice, rather than resorting to unethical means to achieve our goals. David's refusal to compromise his principles, even for political gain, serves as a powerful example for navigating difficult situations with faith and character, knowing that our ultimate deliverance comes from God, as seen in many of David's psalms of deliverance.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 48:16 (6 votes)

    The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

  • Psalms 107:2 (6 votes)

    Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

  • 1 Kings 1:29 (6 votes)

    And the king sware, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

  • Psalms 34:17 (6 votes)

    [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

  • Psalms 34:6 (6 votes)

    This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.

  • Psalms 34:7 (6 votes)

    The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

  • Psalms 103:4 (5 votes)

    Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;