2 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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-7 See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep the sleep of death before we awake; nor do we know from what hand the death-blow may come....

CHAPTER IV _Some account of Rechab and Baanah, two of Ish-bosheth's_ _captains, and of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan_, 1-4. _Rechab and Baanah murder Ish-bosheth, and escape; and bring_ _his head to David_, 5-8. _David is greatly irritated, and commands them to be slain_, 9-12. NOTES ON CHAP. IV Verse 2 Samuel 4:1. _ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE TROUBLED_] Abner was their great support; and on him they depended; for it appears that Ish-bosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a sovereign....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 4:1 WHEN SAUL'S SON HEARD THAT ABNER WAS DEAD. The news of Abner's death must have had a doubly depressing effect upon Ishbosheth; for he learned, not only that the mainstay of his kingdom was slain, but that even he, in despair of a successful issue, had been engaged in treasonable negotiations with his rival. ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE TROUBLED. Their trouble was caused rather by uncertainty than by fear. Abner's plans had fallen through, and the fact of his murder threw grave suspicions on David. Had he now attacked Israel, the chiefs would most probably have stood loyally by Saul's house. But he did nothing, and his innocence slowly but gradually was made clear. They were thus in a state of suspense, and waiting till some brave man arose to lead them to a decision. Unfortunately, a fresh crime threw e

AND WHEN SAUL'S SON HEARD THAT ABNER WAS DEAD IN HEBRON,.... By Saul's son is meant Ishbosheth, to whom tidings were soon brought of the death of Abner his general, and that he died in Hebron, where David his rival reigned, and was there murdered by Joab the general of his army: HIS HANDS WERE FEEBLE: not only in a natural sense, being quite dispirited at hearing such news; but in a civil sense, having lost his main support and strength, he being president of his council, and commander of his forces, and in whom he placed all his confidence: and if he knew nothing of his being at Hebron, it must surprise him to hear of his dying there; from whence he might conclude, that since he was there without his knowledge, it could not be in his favour, some plot was forming, and schemes laying with his rival to dethrone him; or if he knew of it, and understood it in this light, that he was endeav...

5. THE DEATH OF ISH-BOSHETH CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Ish-bosheth in despair (2 Samuel 4:1)_ 2. Mephibosheth, the lame son (2 Samuel 4:4) 3. The end of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:5) 4. The punishment of the murderers (2 Samuel 4:9) Abner's death meant the speedy end of Ish-bosheth's pretentious reign. Baanah and Rechab were his captains and became his murderers. While Ish-bosheth was resting in the heat of the day they sneaked in and murdered the sleeping son of Saul, then brought the head to David. They claimed to be instruments of God in the execution of the wicked deed, expecting approval and a reward from

It was clear that Ishbaal's authority could not long survive Abner. It was only a question who should carry out the schemes which Abner had set on foot. Two of Ishbaal's captains came to his house as he was enjoying his midday siesta. And, behold the portress was cleaning wheat, and she had fallen sound asleep, and they got into the house without being noticed (following LXX of 2 Samuel 4:6 _cf. mg.),_ and slew Ishbaal and took his head to David, who had them put to death. There are two insertions in this narrative. 2 Samuel 4:2_ b_, 2 Samuel 4:3 is an archæ ological note as to Beeroth (Deuteronomy 10:6). Its inhabitants, probabl

2 Samuel 4:1-7. The Murder of Ish-bosheth 1. _his hands were feeble_ HIS HANDS WERE WEAKENED. His resolution was paralysed: he lost heart. Cp. Ezra 4:4, and the opposite expression in ch. 2 Samuel 2:7. _were troubled_ WERE DISMAYED. Ish-bosheth was a mere puppet, and Abner the real stay of the kingdom....

AND ALL THE ISRAELITES WERE TROUBLED— That is, all those who were united to the interest of Ish-bosheth....

4. The King in Gilead Slain, 2 Samuel 4:1-12. _Mephibosheth Introduced._ 2 Samuel 4:1-4 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 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: 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 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