The big picture
2 Samuel 4 opens in verse 1 with “And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched…”, and closes in verse 12 with “And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their…” Repeated or prominent terms include Baanah, bosheth, head, Hebron, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 122 Samuel 4:1-6
1–6: When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were…
2 Samuel 4:1–6 opens with “And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the…” and reaches “And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 4 develops its own movement around Baanah, bosheth, head, Hebron, house, with particular weight carried by Baanah, name, Rechab.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.” Naming Abner and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“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…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Samuel 4:1-6
King James Version1And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
2And 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:
3And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
4And 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.
5And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6And 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.
2 Samuel 4:7-12
7–12: For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber…
2 Samuel 4:7–12 opens with “For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and…” and reaches “And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 4 develops its own movement around Baanah, bosheth, head, Hebron, house, with particular weight carried by head, bosheth, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth…” Naming Ish and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD…” Naming Baanah and Beerothite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 4:7-12
King James Version7For 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.
8And 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, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
9And 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,
10When 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:
11How 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?
12And 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 Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 4:1 begins with “And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 4:3 forms a natural hinge: “And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)”
The final note
2 Samuel 4:12 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Baanah, bosheth, head, Hebron, house, Rechab help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.