Ish-Bosheth Murdered

2 Samuel 4:1-12 (Key Verse: 4:11)

“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!”

1. Read verses 1-4. What happens when Ish-Bosheth hears that Abner died? (1) Who are the leaders of the raiding bands? (2, 3) What happened to Jonathan’s surviving son? (4)

2. Read verses 5-8. What do Rekab and Baanah do to Ish-Bosheth? (5-7a) What do they do with the head of Ish-Bosheth? (7b, 8a) What do they say to David? (8b)

3. Read verses 9-12. How does David answer Rekab and Baanah who killed Ish-Bosheth? (9, 10) What does David tell the wicked men? (11) What order does David give to his men? (12a) What did they do with the head of Ish-Bosheth? (12b)

ISH-BOSHETH MURDERED

2 Samuel 4:1-12 (K. V.: 4:11)

“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!”
 

Have you ever been recognized by someone of very high rank—perhaps a president? I remember a moment when my students were presenting their summer research, the president of Lewis University was right there, calling out my name and asking about the prospects of my research. It was a nerve-breaking moment, both humbling and intimidating. In today’s passage, we witness a similar moment: two men standing before King David. How did they fare? Last week, through Msn. Gideon’s message, we saw David as a gentle and humble king. His gentleness won hearts and fostered peace and unity. Yet we see a different side of David today: stern, law-abiding, and committed to justice. This reveals what kind of life we are to live before our ultimate King, Jesus. Like David, Jesus is gentle and humble, but also righteous and just. He rewards sincerity and faith, but confronts dishonesty and greed. May God help us to live faithfully and truthfully before Him!

1. Rekab, Baanah and Mephibosheth; Names to Remember (1-4)

Look at at verse 1. When Ish-Bosheth heard the news of Abner’s death in Hebron, he lost courage—and all Israel was thrown into alarm. What could he possibly do? Abner had been the backbone of his military, the key figure sustaining his fragile kingdom after Saul’s death. Abner had remained loyal to Ish-Bosheth, at least until recently, even though he had attempted to switch sides in the name of national unity. Look at verse 2a. Not everyone in Ish-Bosheth’s camp was like Abner. We’re introduced to two prominent leaders: Rekab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, from the tribe of Benjamin. These men must have held significant military authority—their lineage and background are recorded in detail, which is rare and telling.

Verses 2b-3 add a historical footnote: “Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.” While we don’t know the exact location of Beeroth (possibly annexed at the time of Joshua when the Gibeonites deceived Isarael and survived), the point is clear—they were fully assimilated into the tribe of Benjamin. Perhaps they worked tirelessly—double shifts, triple shifts—to survive and earn their place. Now, they stood as high-ranking officials. It’s a story like that of JFK and Bobby Kennedy, descendants of Irish immigrants who fled the Great Famine (an Gorta Mór), settled in New York, and eventually rose to prominence in American society.

Then, in verse 4, the narrative shifts unexpectedly. The author introduces Mephibosheth, whose background is far less distinguished. He was Jonathan’s son, crippled in both feet. His injury occurred when he was just five years old, during the chaos following the deaths of his father and grandfather. His nurse, trying to save him, fled in haste—but dropped him, leaving him permanently disabled.

Why does the author place Mephibosheth’s story between the introduction of Rekab and Baanah and the final moments of Ish-Bosheth? Perhaps to show the tragic decline of Saul’s house, with a disabled child as its only remaining heir. Or maybe to highlight how Mephibosheth was spared precisely because he was not seen as a threat. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: his name was remembered and recorded.

In history, only those deemed “noteworthy” are remembered—like Rekab and Baanah. If we search our own names on Google—say, Dr. Jason Perry or Sh. Rob McHugh—we might find a British singer or a Scottish soccer player. But most of us are remembered only within the smaller circles of our lives. Yet, God remembers differently.

In the world, recognition often comes through power, achievement, or status. But in God’s kingdom, even people like Mephibosheth are remembered not because of worldly accomplishments, but because of the covenant his father Jonathan made with David. Isaiah 49:15 reminds us of such rememberance: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” So we can lift our heads! We live our lives not defined by achievements or problems or pain, but by the assurance that He never forgets us because of the covenant we made with our Lord Jesus Christ. However small or seemingly insignificant our lives may feel, God strengthens us to live with confidence as our names are known to Him who never forgets! He is within our smaller circle! May God bless our unforgettable life within his circle!

2. Should I Not Now Demand His Blood … ? (5-12)

Look at verse 5. After Abner’s death, Rekab and Baanah began to act on a plot they had likely been considering for some time. With Abner gone, they might have felt they were next in line in terms of influence. As underprivileged men, they saw an opportunity to elevate their status by switching allegiance to David. But they knew they needed something to offer David—a token of loyalty or a compelling reason to be accepted. So, they devised a plan to assassinate Ish-Bosheth.

Their reasoning was simple but sinister: if Ish-Bosheth remained alive, they would be branded traitors. But if they eliminated him, they could present themselves as heroes to David. Contrast this with Abner’s approach. Though Abner had his own flaws, he eventually came to his senses, remembered God’s promise, and sought unity under David. His actions resembled the prodigal son returning home—not perfect, but repentant. More importantly, Abner did not seek to kill Ish-Bosheth. Rekab and Baanah, however, had murder in mind from the beginning.

They chose to strike in the heat of the day—an unusual time for assassins—likely to avoid suspicion. According to verse 6, they used deception to gain access to Ish-Bosheth’s inner quarters, pretending to collect wheat. Then they stabbed him in the stomach, killed him, and cut off his head. They traveled all night to Hebron and presented the severed head to David. What did they say? They claimed, “The Lord has avenged you today on Saul and his offspring.” This statement was deeply flawed—theologically, morally, and militarily.

• Theologically, God explicitly forbids punishing children for their parents’ sins (Ezekiel 18:20). Saul was David’s enemy, not Ish-Bosheth. Saul was already dead, so vengeance was neither necessary nor justified.
• Morally, common sense tells us that killing the son of an enemy only perpetuates a vicious cycle of revenge.
• Militarily, Ish-Bosheth was their commander-in-chief. Killing him was an act of insubordination, regardless of their motives.

Look at verse 9. David responded with clarity and conviction. He reminded them that God had delivered him from every trouble—not human schemes. Their claim of divine vengeance was invalid. David then recalled the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul and expected a reward, only to be executed. That man thought he was bringing good news, but it was wicked in David’s eyes.

David applied the same principle to Rekab and Baanah. He emphasized that they had murdered an innocent man in his own home, on his own bed—the safest and most private place one can be. As one of our leaders aptly pointed out in our Thursday meeting, killing civilians in their own homes on their own beds is a crime against humanity. Soldiers dying on the battlefield is tragic but understandable. But murder in one’s own bed? That’s horrifying.

Perhaps David imagined himself in Ish-Bosheth’s place—being killed in pajamas instead of dying honorably in battle. That thought likely stirred his righteous anger. So David declared, “How much more should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” He ordered their execution, and their bodies were mutilated and displayed—a sign of divine curse (Deuteronomy 21:23a) and a warning to others who would violate God’s laws for selfish gain.

So far, we’ve seen two cases where people brought what they thought was “good news” to David, only to be condemned. Killing Saul, the Lord’s anointed, or Ish-Bosheth, an innocent man, was never good news to David—it was wickedness, and he dealt with it severely. But there was one case where David was truly pleased. The men of Jabesh Gilead risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and Jonathan from the Philistines and gave them a proper burial. David honored them generously. If we see David as a representative of Jesus Christ our King, we learn what truly pleases Him.

When we come to Jesus with dishonesty, greed, or self-seeking motives, we are rebuked. But when we come with sincerity, faith, and a desire to honor others—especially those in need of dignity and restoration—we are welcomed and richly rewarded. As Daniel 12:3 promises, “Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.” After our blessed MSBC, the logistics team met to discuss how to reward those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. We created three tiers: A, B, and C. But listen to what Dr. Charles, our logistics head, said: “There’s no way such an award can fully compensate for your labor. It’s mostly a token of appreciation.” Regardless of the tier, we are all superstars in God’s sight (better than popstars or all-stars)!

In conclusion, let us recap today’s message with a pun: Don’t be like Rekab! We are remembered not for worldly accomplishments, but for our covenant with Jesus Christ. He is a gentle and humble King—but also righteous and just. A father’s sin is not passed to the son. We are judged and rewarded based on what we bring to Him in faith—especially when we lead others to righteousness. May God make us shine like the stars through our discipleship!