Shmuel II - Chapter 4

1. And Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, and his hands became feeble, and all Israel were dismayed.

2. And Saul's son had two men, the heads of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the second was Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin, (for Beeroth was also counted to Benjamin.

3. And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and they were living there until this day).

4. And Jonathan, the son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse carried him and fled; and it was in her haste to flee, that he fell and became lame, and his name was Mephibosheth.

5. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came in the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, when he was taking his midday rest.

6. And they came inside the house [as] buyers of wheat, and they struck him under the fifth rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7. And they came into the house and he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, and they struck him and put him to death, and they removed his head, and they took his head and went by way of the plain all night.

8. And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron, and they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life. And the Lord has granted my lord the king vengeance 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 to them, "As the Lord lives, Who delivered my person from every distress.

10. That he who told me saying, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and he was in his own eyes as a herald of good tidings, I took hold of him and slew him in Ziglag, who [had expected] me to give him a reward for good tidings.

11. 'How much more when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house on his bed. And now, shall I not hold you accountable for his blood, and remove you from the earth?"

12. And David commanded the young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ish-bosheth they took and buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron.