2 Samuel 4:1-5:10

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

2. David’s punishment of Ish-bosheth’s murderers ch. 4"Saul the king is dead, Jonathan the heir apparent is dead, Abinadab and Malki-Shua (two of Jonathan’s brothers) are dead (1 Samuel 31:2), Abner the commander of the army is dead-and no other viable claimants or pretenders continue to block David’s accession to the throne except Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth and Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. Chapter 4 removes them from the scene, one explicitly and the other implicitly." [Note: Youngblood, p. 843.]... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

The Murder of Ish-bosheth2, 3. Beeroth was near Gibeon. The object of this note is to explain how the Beerothites came to be Benjamites. Properly they should have been Canaanites, for Beeroth was included in the treaty with Gibeon (Joshua 9:17, Joshua 9:27). But owing to the persecution of Saul (2 Samuel 21:1) the Canaanites of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, and the town passed into the possession of Benjamin. Gittaim] in Benjamin.4. Mephibosheth] His name is given in 1 Chronicles 8:34 as... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 4:1

IV.(1) All the Israelites were troubled.—The death of Abner affected both Ish-bosheth and his people. For the former, “his hands were feeble,” the whole support and strength of his throne being gone; the latter were “troubled” because they had been carrying on negotiations with David through Abner, and these were now thrown into confusion, and it became uncertain how they might result. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

9CHAPTER V.ASSASSINATION OF ABNER AND ISHBOSHETH.2 Samuel 3:22-39; 2 Samuel 4:1-12IT is quite possible that, in treating with Abner, David showed too complacent a temper, that he treated too lightly his appearance in arms against him at the pool of Gibeon, and that he neglected to demand an apology for the death of Asahel. Certainly it would have been wise had some measures been taken to soothe the ruffled temper of Joab and reconcile him to the new arrangement This, however, was not done.... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

5. The Death of Ish-bosheth CHAPTER 4 1. Ish-bosheth in despair (2 Samuel 4:1-3 ) 2. Mephibosheth, the lame son (2 Samuel 4:4 ) 3. The end of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:5-8 ) 4. The punishment of the murderers (2 Samuel 4:9-12 ) 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... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 4:1

4:1 And when Saul’s {a} son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were {b} feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.(a) That is, Ishbosheth.(b) Meaning, that he was discouraged. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

Abner's death left Ish-bosheth helpless, and all Israel in a state of troubled perplexity (v.1). Two men, however, who were captains of bands in Ish-bosheth's army, saw an attractive opportunity at this time. They could plainly see that David would gain the ascendancy, and they thought they could gain David's favor by killing Ish-bosheth. But they acted on the false assumption that David was as wicked as they were. They were brothers, and of the tribe of Benjamin. In verse 4 a note is... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

DAVID MADE KING LAMENTING THE DEAD (2 Samuel 1:0 ) Surely the harshness and gentleness of David are strangely blended in this chapter. That one should so lament an enemy and slay the man who professed to murder him surpasses ordinary thought; but David was built on a large mould. Of course the Amalekite lied to David, for the inspired record of the death of Saul in the preceding book must be regarded as correct. Observe the motive governing David: “Wast thou not afraid.., to destroy the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 4:1

"Handfuls of Purpose" For All Gleaners "... his hands were feeble." 2 Samuel 4:1 . The man spoken of was Saul's son, and as the son of a king what reason had he to have enfeebled hands? The reason is, that Abner was dead. But could not a king's son do without Abner? Have not king's sons abundant resources in themselves, without being dependent upon outsiders however distinguished? All history replies in the negative. Men belong to one another. The king's son was nothing without Abner, but... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

2 Samuel 4:0 1. And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled [by the loss of a great man]. 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 [Beeroth was one of the four cities of the Gibeonites] fled to Gittaim [neither... read more

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