Following Abner’s death, Israel entered another season of uncertainty. Heard That Abner Had Died, fear spread throughout the nation, and some believed they could advance themselves through violence. Yet David once again demonstrated that God’s kingdom is never established through murder, betrayal, or personal ambition. This chapter reveals that the Lord honors righteousness, judges wickedness, and fulfills His covenant according to His perfect justice.
Obedience • God’s Covenant • Judgment • Repentance • Faith • Redemption Plan • Jesus Christ
📖 2 Samuel 4:1-3 (NIV)
“4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.”
After hearing that Abner had died in Hebron, Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, lost courage, and the people of Israel became discouraged. The kingdom that remained under Saul’s house continued to weaken as uncertainty spread throughout the nation.
The chapter briefly introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s young son, who became permanently disabled while fleeing after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Though his story appears only briefly here, God would later use David to show remarkable covenant kindness toward him.
📖 2 Samuel 4:4-6 (NIV)
“4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)”
“5 Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.”
Meanwhile, two brothers, Rekab and Baanah, leaders of raiding bands, saw an opportunity for personal gain. They entered Ish-Bosheth’s house while he rested during the heat of the day, murdered him in his own bedroom, cut off his head, and carried it through the night to David.
David immediately rejected their actions.
He reminded them that when another Amalekite claimed responsibility for Saul’s death, he had received judgment instead of reward.
If that man was judged for claiming to kill the Lord’s anointed, how much greater was the guilt of men who murdered an innocent man in his own home?
David ordered his servants to execute the two murderers. Their bodies were publicly displayed as a testimony against wickedness, while Ish-Bosheth’s head was respectfully buried in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
Justice was carried out, but honor was still shown to the dead.
📖 2 Samuel 4:7 (NIV)
“7 They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.”
Rekab and Baanah believed they were helping God’s plan.
David understood that the kingdom would come through God’s timing—not through assassination or deceit.
Whenever people attempt to “help God” through unrighteous actions, they place themselves under His judgment instead of His blessing.
📖 2 Samuel 4:8 (NIV)
“8 They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
David could easily have accepted the murder as a political victory.
He refused to reward wickedness, even when it appeared to benefit him personally.
True leadership refuses to compromise righteousness for temporary success.
David understood that a kingdom built upon innocent blood could never receive God’s blessing.
📖 2 Samuel 4:9-10 (NIV)
“9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 10 when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!”
The murderers claimed,
“The Lord has avenged my lord the king.”
God never approves murder disguised as righteousness.
The Lord alone determines when judgment should come.
Faith waits upon God’s justice instead of creating its own.
📖 2 Samuel 4:11-12 (NIV)
“11 How much more—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 rid the earth of you!”
“12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron”
David’s judgment against Rekab and Baanah protected the future kingdom.
If such crimes were rewarded, violence would become the accepted path to power.
By punishing evil immediately, David established that Israel’s future government would be founded upon justice rather than fear.
Although Saul’s house continued to decline, God’s covenant with David continued to advance.
Political instability could not stop God’s promises.
Violence could not accelerate God’s timetable.
Every event continued moving Israel toward the kingdom God had already established by His Word.
God remains faithful to His covenant despite human failure.
This chapter reminds believers that:
God never blesses sinful methods to accomplish righteous goals.
Justice must never be sacrificed for personal advantage.
Faith waits for God’s timing instead of forcing circumstances.
The Lord judges hidden motives as well as visible actions.
Godly leaders protect righteousness above personal gain.
God’s covenant advances through obedience, not manipulation.
Every act of justice reflects God’s holy character.
David refused to establish his kingdom through murder or deceit.
Jesus Christ established His eternal kingdom through perfect righteousness and sacrificial love.
While sinful men betrayed, arrested, and crucified Jesus, He did not seek revenge or seize power through violence.
Instead, He trusted completely in the Father’s will, allowing God’s perfect redemption plan to unfold.
David honored justice and rejected wickedness.
Jesus fulfilled perfect justice while extending mercy to sinners through His death and resurrection.
Every chapter of 2 Samuel points forward to Jesus Christ—the righteous King who judges with truth, reigns with perfect justice, fulfills God’s everlasting covenant, and offers eternal salvation through His redeeming grace.
