2 Samuel 4:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-8

Here is, I. The weakness of Saul's house. Still it grew weaker and weaker. 1. As for Ishbosheth, who was in possession of the throne, his hands were feeble, 2 Sam. 4:1. All the strength they ever had was from Abner's support, and now that he was dead he had no spirit left in him. Though Abner had, in a passion, deserted his interest, yet he hoped, by his means, to make good terms with David; but now even this hope fails him, and he sees himself forsaken by his friends and at the mercy of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:2

And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands ,.... Of troops in the army, or of guards about the person of Ishbosheth son of Saul: 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 ; so that these men were brethren in nature, as well as in iniquity; they had the same father, who is described by his name and city, and their names are expressly mentioned and recorded to their infamy; and they were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:2

Captains of bands - Principes latronum , captains of banditti, says the Vulgate; the Syriac is the same. Whether Ish-bosheth kept bands of marauders, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry off grain, provisions, cattle, etc., we know not; but such persons would be well qualified for the bloody work in which these two men were afterwards employed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-3

( MAHANAIM .) The unhappy lot of Ishbosheth. Of the varied types of character which these chapters furnish, that which appears in Ishbosheth (Eshbaal, 1 Chronicles 8:33 ) is a most pitiable one. The last surviving son of Saul, he bore little resemblance to his heroic father; owed his life to his incapacity for military enterprise; was the legitimate successor of Saul according to the law of Oriental succession; after the brief suspense in which the elders of Israel seemed disposed to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

The facts are: 1 . On the death of Abner, consternation seizes Ishbosheth and his friends. 2 . The only other representative of the house of Saul was a mere boy, whose age and bodily infirmity rendered his coming to the front out of the question. 3 . Two of Ishbosheth's officers, forming a secret design, visit Ishbosheth as though on business connected with their duties, and slay him. 4 . Stealing away by night, they carry the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and think to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:2

Saul's son had two men captains of bands. The bands mentioned were light-armed troops, used in forays, such as that mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:22 . Their captains would be men of importance with Ishbosheth, who is here described somewhat contemptuously, not as king, nor by his own name, but as "Saul's son." Beeroth . This place, literally the Wells , was one of the four towns reserved for the Gibeonites ( Joshua 9:17 ), though nominally belonging to Benjamin ( Joshua 18:25 ). The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 4:2

Beeroth - See the marginal reference. From Joshua 9:17, it might have been expected that the population of Beeroth would be Canaanite. But from some unknown cause the Canaanite inhabitants of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim - perhaps the same as Gath - and continued there as sojourners. If this flight of the Beerothites took place at the time of Saul’s cruel attack upon the Gibeonites 2 Samuel 21:1-2, Baanah and Reehab may have been native Beerothites, and have been instigated to murder the son of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 4:2

2 Samuel 4:2. Captains of bands Whether of regular forces, or some flying parties, whose business was spoil and prey, is not certain. Perhaps they were captains of two companies of guards about the king. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

End of the line of Saul (3:2-4:12)On becoming king of Judah, David followed the pattern of neighbouring kings by taking a number of wives (2-5). (For the more important people of David’s family and relatives see the appendix at the end of the commentary on 2 Samuel.) Meanwhile Abner became so powerful among Ishbosheth’s supporters, that Ishbosheth accused him of trying to gain the throne for himself. (According to an eastern custom, one way a person signified his claim to the throne was by... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 4:2

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 . Beerothite . Near Gibeon (Joshua 18:25 ), now El Bireh, 6 miles north of Jerusalem, one of the Hivite towns possessed by Benjamin. children = sons. for . Note Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 . read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 4:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 4:2

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 4:1-12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 4:2

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