2 Samuel 4 1

2 Samuel 4:1 kjv

And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 Samuel 4:1 nkjv

When Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.

2 Samuel 4:1 niv

When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.

2 Samuel 4:1 esv

When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

2 Samuel 4:1 nlt

When Ishbosheth, Saul's son, heard about Abner's death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.

2 Samuel 4 verses

2 Samuel 4 1 Meaning

2 Samuel 4:1 depicts the immediate and profound impact of Abner's death on Ish-bosheth, Saul's surviving son and nominal king, and on the northern tribes of Israel. Upon hearing of Abner's demise in Hebron, Ish-bosheth experienced a complete collapse of courage and resolve, losing all will and ability to govern or resist. This demoralization was not confined to him alone; it spread throughout "all Israel" (referring to the tribes loyal to Saul's house), causing widespread panic, confusion, and despair regarding their future and leadership. The verse signals the inevitable collapse of the remaining opposition to David's unified rule.

2 Samuel 4 1 Context

Chapter 4 of 2 Samuel details the definitive collapse of the house of Saul and the complete consolidation of power under David. This specific verse (2 Sam 4:1) immediately follows the assassination of Abner by Joab in chapter 3, a critical turning point. Abner was the powerful military commander who had initially installed Ish-bosheth as king over the northern tribes following Saul's death. Though Ish-bosheth was the named king, Abner was the true power, leading the war against David and later initiating peace negotiations with him. His sudden and treacherous death in Hebron, David's capital, removed the only capable figure supporting Saul's lineage. Thus, the verse serves as the literary hinge, explaining the vulnerability and ultimate doom that awaited Ish-bosheth and his remaining supporters, directly setting the stage for Ish-bosheth's own assassination described later in the chapter. The historical context reflects a time of transition of power, with David steadily gaining momentum, marked by strategic alliances and military successes, while the opposition's strength dwindled.

2 Samuel 4 1 Word analysis

• When Saul’s son (ben-Sha'ul - בֶן־שָׁאוּל): Refers to Ish-bosheth, the nominal king over the tribes loyal to Saul. This highlights his legitimacy by lineage but reveals his true weakness, as his rule was propped up by Abner, not his own capabilities or divine appointment. His role is presented as a titleholder whose fate is tied to others.
• heard (shama - שָׁמַע): More than merely perceiving sound; it implies processing, understanding the gravity, and receiving information with full implication. It signifies receiving definitive, deeply impacting news.
• that Abner (Avner - אַבְנֵר): Abner, Saul's cousin and commander, was the political and military mastermind of Saul’s kingdom after Saul’s death. His authority kept the northern tribes together against David. His personal influence and military strength were indispensable to Ish-bosheth’s precarious reign.
• had died (met - מֵת): The past tense verb emphasizes the finality. Abner was irrevocably gone. His death was an unchangeable event with irreversible consequences for Ish-bosheth's kingship.
• in Hebron (Hevron - חֶבְרוֹן): This detail is significant as Hebron was David's capital. Abner had journeyed there to make a peace covenant with David, underscoring the irony and tragedy of his death occurring in the very place meant to usher in reconciliation and unity. It highlights David’s perceived (though denied) complicity in the death from the perspective of Ish-bosheth's court.
• he lost heart (raphah yadaw - רָפָה יָדָיו, literally "his hands became slack/weakened his hands"): An idiomatic expression for losing courage, resolve, willpower, and becoming utterly demoralized. It signifies a complete internal collapse, rendering one incapable of action, decision-making, or leadership. For a king, this is a catastrophic state, symbolizing his inability to govern or defend.
• and all Israel (kol-Yisra'el - כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל): Refers specifically to the tribes in the northern kingdom who were not yet allied with David or Judah. This implies a collective, widespread impact beyond just the immediate court.
• was dismayed (nivhalah - נִבְהֲלָה, "was terrified," "thrown into confusion," "hastily troubled"): This describes a state of shock, alarm, panic, and overwhelming fear. It's more intense than simply being discouraged; it suggests profound confusion and apprehension, reflecting a loss of hope and recognition of impending doom for their current political structure. The foundation of their kingdom had been violently removed, leaving them vulnerable.

Words-group analysis

• Saul’s son heard that Abner had died: This group immediately establishes the direct cause-and-effect: the news of Abner’s death fundamentally crippled the current leadership structure of Saul’s house. The hearing leads directly to an internal and external collapse.
• he lost heart, and all Israel was dismayed: This pairing highlights the domino effect of despair. The king's loss of will directly translates into panic among his subjects, revealing the fragile state of a kingdom dependent on human power rather than divine guidance. The individual's state directly impacted the collective's spirit.

2 Samuel 4 1 Bonus section

The phrase "lost heart" or "his hands became slack" is a recurring biblical idiom often used to describe those who give up in the face of adversity, particularly those who fail to trust in God. While Ish-bosheth's "lost heart" signifies his political collapse, in other contexts (e.g., Exod 17:11-12, Heb 12:12), it serves as a contrast, where keeping hands raised or lifting them implies sustained effort, faith, and reliance on divine strength. Ish-bosheth's immediate reaction demonstrates his inherent weakness and his kingdom's lack of divine backing, contrasting sharply with David's perseverance even in deep personal distress, because David consistently sought the LORD. The rapid shift from Ish-bosheth's kingship to his ignominious death (vv. 5-7) is directly foreshadowed by this verse's portrayal of a king stripped of all personal resolve and a nation steeped in terror, without any true leadership to steady them. This emphasizes that effective human leadership, especially in God’s chosen nation, depends on inner resolve and divine favor, both absent here.

2 Samuel 4 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 4:1 succinctly captures a pivotal moment in the unification of Israel under David. It showcases the complete dependence of Ish-bosheth's kingship on Abner, whose death instantaneously dissolved any lingering political and military stability for Saul's house. Ish-bosheth, depicted as lacking true strength and initiative, crumples upon receiving the news, illustrating the vacuity of his reign without Abner’s backbone. His "lost heart" is a dramatic statement of total resignation, reflecting a deeper understanding that the strategic war against David was lost. This demoralization cascaded through the northern tribes ("all Israel"), transforming their resistance into collective "dismay." This widespread terror and confusion underscore the imminent end of the fragmented kingdom and highlight the fear of an unstable future. The verse essentially states that the foundation of Saul’s house, having lost its key support, was no longer merely weak but utterly collapsed in spirit, preparing the way for David's divinely ordained, unchallenged ascent as king over all Israel.