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Chapter 4
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Verse 1

When Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all of Israel was shaken.

And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

Verse 2

Now Saul's son had two leaders of his raiding bands. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin, for Beeroth was also considered part of Benjamin.

And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

Verse 3

The Beerothites had fled to Gittaim, where they have lived as foreigners to this day.

And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

Verse 4

Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

Verse 5

The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, traveled during the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed during his midday rest.

And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

Verse 6

They entered the house under the pretense of fetching wheat and struck him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.

And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

Verse 7

After entering the house while Ishbosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him, killed him, and cut off his head. Taking his head with them, they traveled along the road through the Arabah all night.

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.

Verse 8

They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has given my lord the king revenge against Saul and his descendants."

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.

Verse 9

David answered Rechab and Baanah, his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every trouble...

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,

Verse 10

When someone told me, 'Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news.

When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

Verse 11

How much more, then, when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed! Should I not now demand his blood from your hand and remove you from the earth?

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

Verse 12

So David commanded his young men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron.

And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

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Chapter 4
Next: 2-samuel 5→