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2 Samuel 4
Expanded Bible
2 Samuel 4
Expanded Bible
Ish-Bosheth’s Death
4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron, ·he was shocked [he lost his courage; L his hands grew limp] and all Israel ·became frightened [was alarmed/dismayed]. 2 ·Two men who were captains in Saul’s army came to Ish-Bosheth [Saul’s son had two leaders of raiding parties]. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. 3 The people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim, and they still live there as ·foreigners [resident aliens] today.)
4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was ·crippled [lame] in both feet. He was five years old when the ·news [report] came from Jezreel ·that Saul and Jonathan were dead [about Saul and Jonathan]. Mephibosheth’s nurse had picked him up and run away. But as she hurried to leave, she dropped him, and now he was lame.)
5 Recab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-Bosheth’s house in the ·afternoon [L heat of the day] while he was taking ·a nap [his midday rest].
9 David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, “As surely as the Lord lives, he has ·saved [L ransomed; redeemed] me from all ·trouble [danger; adversity; or my enemies]! 10 Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, ‘Saul is dead!’ I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news [1:1–16]! 11 ·So even more I must [L How much more must I…?] put you evil men to death because you have killed an ·innocent [righteous] man on his own bed in his own house!”
12 So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. They cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hung ·them [their bodies] ·over [beside] the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s ·tomb [grave] at Hebron.
2 Samuel 4
New International Version
2 Samuel 4
New International Version
Ish-Bosheth Murdered
4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner(A) 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(B) is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim(C) and have resided there as foreigners to this day.
4 (Jonathan(D) son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news(E) 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.(F) His name was Mephibosheth.)(G)
5 Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth,(H) and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest.(I) 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed(J) him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
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.(K) 8 They brought the head(L) of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul,(M) your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged(N) my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered(O) 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.(P) That was the reward I gave him for his news! 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(Q) from your hand and rid the earth of you!”
12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them.(R) 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.
Expanded Bible (EXB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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