Explanation: In 2 Samuel 4, when Ishbosheth heard of the death of Abner, he became feeble; and the rest of Israel was troubled. Among the Benjamites (Ishbosheth's tribe) was a family called the Beerothites who fled to Gittaim (a town which was probably within the territory of Benjamin, but far away from Mahanaim, Ishbosheth's capital). However, two Beerothites, Baanah and Rechab, who were military captains, remained and conspired against Ishbosheth (1-3).
     Also, Jonathan's son was there. He was lame due to a fall when he was five, being about twelve or thirteen at this time (4).
     Baanah and Rechab came into the house of Mephibosheth pretending to be there to fetch wheat. However, they entered Mephibosheth's bed chamber, killed him, cut off his head, and fled with it across the plain all night until they came to David in Hebron. They presented the head of Ishbosheth as proof that the LORD had avenged David of Saul and his seed. David rebuked them for their wickedness and had them executed. He then had their hands and feet cut off and their bodies hanged over the pool in Hebron. But he took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron (5-12).
     [ Sermons: William W Goligher. William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: As in the painting above, those who killed Ishbosheth were hanged for their attempted coup d'etat. ]

     ⁵ 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. 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. ⁷ For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber [bed chamber], and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. ⁸ And they bought 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 [gave revenge to] my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 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, ¹⁰ When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have bought 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: 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? 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 Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

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