Chapter 4

Baana and Rechab secretly kill Isboseth: ℣.8 bring his head to David. ℣.8 Who condemning their fact, putteth them to death.

1. 1

   And Isboseth the son of Saul heard that Abner was slain in Hebron: and his hands were weakened, and all Israel was troubled.

2. 2

   And the son of Saul had two men captains of robbers, the name of one Baana, & the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rhemmon the Berothite of the sons of Benjamin: for Beroth also was accounted in Benjamin.

3. 3

   And the Berothites fled into Gethaim, and were there strangers until that time.

4. 4

   And Jonathas the son of Saul had a son lame in his feet: for he was five years old, when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathas from Jezrahel. His nurse therefore taking him, fled: and when she made haste to fly, he fell, & was made lame: and he was called Miphiboseth.

5. 5

   Therefore the sons of Rhemmon the Berothite, Rechab and Baana coming, entered into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: who slept upon his bed at noon. And the Portress of the house that winnowed wheat, was asleep.

6. 6

   And they entered into the house secretly taking ears of corn, and Rechab and Baana his brother struck him in privy parts and fled.

7. 7

   And when they were entered into the house, he slept upon his bed in a parlour, and striking they killed him: and taking away his head they went by the way of the desert all night.

8. 8

   And brought the head of Isboseth to David into Hebron: & they said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the son of Saul thine enemy, who sought thy life: and our Lord hath given my lord the king this day revenge of Saul, and of his seed.

9. 9

   But David answering Rechab and Baana his brother, the sons of Rhemmon the Berothite, said to them: Our Lord liveth, which hath delivered my soul out of all distress,

10. 10

    for so much as him that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought that he told prosperous things, I apprehended, and slew him in Siceleg, to whom I should have given a reward for his tidings.

11. 11

    How much more now when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12. 12

    David therefore commanded his servants, and they slew them, and cutting off their hands and feet, hanged them over the pool in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they took, and buried in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.