2 SAMUEL LESSON 5
We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 4:1 "And when Saul's son
heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all
the Israelites were troubled."
Ishbosheth was greatly troubled that his military man was killed.
He, probably, thought that David would come after him next. He did not
know that David had nothing to do with this. Saul's son, here, is
speaking of Ishbosheth. It appears, that the people were not aware of
the circumstances surrounding this.
II Samuel 4:2 "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."
These two were men in the army. They were not related to Saul, or
to Ishbosheth. These Beerothites were not true Benjamites, but were
actually captured by them. These two men were willing to follow anyone
that might benefit them.
II Samuel 4:3 "And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were
sojourners there until this day.)"
They were actually driven out, when the Benjamites took them
over. They fled to Gittaim as a refuge.
II Samuel 4:4 "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."
We must remember that, Jonathan was David's best friend. At the
death of Ishbosheth, there were no more sons to carry on the family of
Saul. This son of Jonathan was the only real family connection that
David had with his old friend. The son of Jonathan was Mephibosheth.
His name meant destroying idols. This son of Jonathan is a crippled
man. We are not told whether David had been aware of this son of
Jonathan before, or not. He was just 5 years old, when Jonathan was
killed.
II Samuel 4:5 "And 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."
Ishbosheth seemed to be a very lazy man. He was lying down at
noon here. He really had very little power himself. He had depended
upon Abner to get him by as king. Abner is gone now, and his power is
gone. These two men are not really loyal to him either.
II Samuel 4:6 "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."
Under the fifth rib is mentioned, again here, because this is the
easiest area to kill a person. These two evil men believe, if they
kill Ishbosheth, it will put them in good standing with David. This is
murder. They have no cause to kill Ishbosheth.
II 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."
Ishbosheth was taking his siesta, as most of the people did in
the heat of the midday. They were not satisfied just to kill him, they
behead him, so that David will believe they have killed him.
II Samuel 4:8 "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, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath
avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed."
These two very evil men did not care what they did to others, if
it would advantage them some way. Saul was not hated by David. David
had made no move against Ishbosheth himself, either. These two men had
heard about Abner's death, and they thought it was David who ordered
his death. They, in a sense, are saying the line of Saul will die out
with Ishbosheth. They brought this head to David, believing he would
be pleased that they had killed Ishbosheth.
II 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,"
We see that, David spoke to them of the power of God working for
him, and in him. God took care of David's adversity. David knew that
God had saved him over and over from capture and death from Saul. We
remember that, David would not raise his sword against Saul.
II Samuel 4:10 "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:"
We remember, from an earlier lesson, how the Amalekite came to
David with the news of Saul's death. He had even taken jewelry off of
Saul, to prove it was the body of Saul. David had the man killed for
trying to take gain of the death of Saul. Here, these two men are
trying to do the same thing; the only difference is that they actually
killed Saul's son. How could they expect any better from David? David
did not need vicious, evil men to help him. He did not want, or need,
their help. They had murdered for money and influence. David will not
let them live.
II Samuel 4:11 "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?"
David was totally revolted at the sin they had committed. This
man was not a military man. He was a harmless puppet king. They have
killed a man, who could not defend himself. The worst part was they
had invaded his home, and killed him in his own bed. They are not just
killers, they are murderers. God's law required the death of those
who murder others.
II Samuel 4:12 "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 Ish-bosheth, and
buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron."
The cutting off of their hands and feet was in retaliation for
their murder of Ishbosheth. Their hands were cut off, because of the
evil thing they had done with their hands. Their feet were cut off,
because they had carried Ishbosheth's head to David. They were hung
up, so that others intending to do some hideous crime, would change
their minds, when they saw what happened to them. The head of
Ishbosheth was buried to show that David honored him.
2 Samuel 5 Questions
1. How did Ishbosheth feel about Abner's death?
2. Why was he so afraid?
3. Who were the two men, who were captains of the bands?
4. __________ was reckoned to Benjamin.
5. Where did the Beerothites flee to?
6. What was wrong with Jonathan's son?
7. How did the accident happen?
8. How old was he, when Jonathan was killed?
9. What was his name?
10. __________ was David's best friend.
11. What does Mephibosheth mean?
12. When did Rechab and Baanah go to Ishbosheth's house?
13. What did they pretend to be there doing?
14. How did they kill him?
15. What was he doing, when they killed him?
16. What did they do, after they killed him?
17. Why did they take his head to David?
18. In verse 9, who did David say took care of his adversity?
19. Who did David tell them about, before he passed sentence on them?
20. What did he have his men do to them?
21. What was the purpose of this type of punishment?
22. What was done with Ishbosheth's head?
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