rd

2 Samuel 4

*Baanáh and Recháb slaye Ish-bósheth the sonne of Saúl. 12 Dauid commandeth them to be slayne.*
1.And whē Sauls a sonne heard ŷ Abnér was dead in Hebrón, then his hands were b feble, and all Israél was afrayed.
2.And Sauls sonne had two men that were captaines of bands: the one called Baanáh, and the other called Recháb, the sonnes of Rimmón a Beerothite of the children of Beniamin. (for c Beeróth was reckoned to Beniamin,
3.Because the Beerothites fled to d Gittáim, and soiourned there, vnto this day)
4.And Ionathán Sauls sonne had a sonne that was lame on his feete: he was fiue yere olde when the tidings came of Saúl and Ionathán out of Israél: then his nourse toke him, and fled away. And as she made haste to flee, the childe fell, and began to halt, and his name was Mephibósheth.
5.And the sonnes of Rimmón the Beerothite, Recháb and Baanáh went and came in the heate of the day to the house of Ish-bósheth (who slept on a bed at noone)
6.And beholde, Recháb and Baanáh his brother came into the middes of the house, as they e wolde haue wheat, and they smote him vnder the fift rib, and fled.
7.For when they came into the house, he slept on his bed in his bedchamber, and they f smote him, and flewe him, and beheaded him, and toke his head, and gate them away through the g plaine all the night.
8.And thei broght the head of Ish-bósheth vnto Dauid to Hebrón, and said to the King, Beholde the head of Ish-bósheth Sauls sonne thine enemie, who soght after thy life: and the Lord hathe auenged my lord the King this day of Saúl and of his seed.
9.Then Dauid answered Recháb and Baanáh his brother, the sonnes of Rimmón the Beerothite, and said vnto them, As the Lord liueth, who hathe deliuered my soule out of all aduersitie,
10.When one * tolde me, and said that Saúl was dead, (thinking to haue broght good tidings) I toke him and flewe him in Ziklag, who thoght that I wolde haue giuen him a rewarde for his tidings:
11.How muche more, when wicked men h haue slayne a righteous persone in his owne house, vpon his bed? shal I not now therefore require his blood at your hand, and take you from the earth?
12.Then Dauid commanded his yong men, and they flewe them, and cut of their hands and their feete, & hanged them vp ouer the poole in Hebrón: but they toke the head of Ish-bósheth, and buryed it in the sepulchre of * Abnér in Hebrón.

Notes

1:a.
That is, Ish-bósheth.
1:b.
Meaning, ŷ he was discouraged.
2:c.
The citie Beeróth was in the tribe of Beniamin, Iosh. 18, 25.
3:d.
After the death of Saúl, for feare of ŷ Philistims.
6:e.
They disguised themselves as marchants, which came to bye wheat.
7:f.
There is nothing so vile & dangerous, which wicked will not enterprise in hope of lucre & fauour.
7:g.
Or, wildernesse.
10:*.
Chap. 1, 15.
11:h.
Forasmuch as neither the example of him that slew Saúl, nor duetie to their master, nor ŷ innocencie of the persone, nor reuerence of the place, nor time did moue thē, they deserued most grieuous punishment.
12:*.
Chap. 3, 32.