2 Samuel 4 12

2 Samuel 4:12 kjv

And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel 4:12 nkjv

So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel 4:12 niv

So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.

2 Samuel 4:12 esv

And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

2 Samuel 4:12 nlt

So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron.

2 Samuel 4 verses

2 Samuel 4 12 Meaning

2 Samuel 4:12 details King David's decisive and severe judgment against Recab and Baanah, the two brothers who murdered Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. David commanded their immediate execution, the dismemberment of their hands and feet, and their public hanging in Hebron, serving as a powerful display of justice against regicide and betrayal. In stark contrast, David ensured that Ish-bosheth's severed head, which the murderers had brought to him for reward, was respectfully buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron, signifying his innocence in Ish-bosheth's death and demonstrating a commitment to honorable treatment for even a rival, consolidating his legitimate authority over Israel.

2 Samuel 4 12 Context

This verse immediately follows the treacherous assassination of Ish-bosheth by Recab and Baanah, two of his captains, who brought his head to David, anticipating reward. David's response in 2 Sam 4:9-11 denounces their act as a vile sin, referencing his earlier condemnation of the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul. This scene marks a crucial juncture in David's consolidation of power. Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, had been established as a rival king over Israel by Abner, but his authority was weak, especially after Abner's death. By punishing the murderers so severely, David not only demonstrated his unwavering commitment to justice and his innocence in Ish-bosheth's downfall but also affirmed the sacredness of even a weak or rival king's life, preventing a cycle of politically motivated assassinations. Hebron was David's capital at this time, making the public display of justice a significant message to all Israel concerning the kind of king David would be—one who honors God's laws and condemns wicked acts.

2 Samuel 4 12 Word analysis

• And David commanded (וַיְצַו דָּוִד, vay'tzav Dawid): Signifies authoritative and immediate decree. It was not a chaotic mob act but a judicial order from the king, underscoring his sovereign power and commitment to legal process, even if summary.
• his young men (אֶת-נְעָרָיו, et-ne'arav): Refers to David's personal loyal attendants or bodyguards, often entrusted with executing sensitive or challenging commands, showing the directness of David's authority.
• and they slew them (וַיַּהַרְגֻם, vayahargum): Direct execution, a divinely mandated punishment for murder (Gen 9:6), immediately carried out.
• and cut off their hands and their feet (וַיְקַצְּצוּ אֶת-יְדֵיהֶם וְאֶת-רַגְלֵיהֶם, vay'qatzetzû et-yedêhem v'et-raglehem): A particularly gruesome act of dismemberment. The "hands" symbolize their murderous act and the "feet" their swiftness to carry out evil and to present the bloody trophy. This echoes the fate of Adoni-bezek (Judg 1:6-7) and is a symbolic punishment reflecting the specific instruments of their crime and ambition, demonstrating complete incapacitation and public shame.
• and hanged them up (וַיִּתְלוּם, vayyitlûm): To publicly display their executed bodies. This was not the act of killing but a subsequent dishonoring of the dead body, reserved for those under a severe divine curse or for grave offenses, as a public deterrent and demonstration of utter disgrace (Deut 21:22-23).
• over the pool in Hebron ('ַל-הַבְּרֵכָה בְּחֶבְרוֹן, 'al-hab'rekah b'Chevron): A prominent and public location, likely a major gathering place in David's capital, ensuring the punishment's visibility and maximizing its deterrent effect.
• But they took the head of Ish-bosheth (וְאֵת רֹאשׁ אִישׁ-בֹּשֶׁת לָקָחוּ, v'et rosh Ish-boshet laqahû): A stark contrast to the fate of the murderers. While their bodies were dishonored, Ish-bosheth's remains received respect. This highlights David's principled stand, refusing to condone the murder.
• and buried it (וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ, vayiqbru oto): An act of proper burial, signaling dignity and humanity for the deceased. This was crucial in ancient Israelite culture, distinguishing a humane and just ruler from those who desecrated the dead.
• in the grave of Abner in Hebron (בְּקֶבֶר אַבְנֵר בְּחֶבְרוֹן, b'qever Avner b'Chevron): Significant association. Abner, like Ish-bosheth, was a powerful figure from Saul's house whose death was a betrayal. Burying Ish-bosheth's head with Abner linked their fates as victims of treachery and showed David's honor for them both, further distancing himself from any complicity in their demises and fostering unity between the former rival factions.

2 Samuel 4 12 Bonus section

The act of cutting off hands and feet and hanging the bodies of the murderers of Ish-bosheth echoes an earlier historical precedent in the book of Judges (1:6-7) where Adoni-bezek suffers a similar fate after he himself had inflicted it on others. This motif emphasizes the concept of lex talionis (eye for an eye) in a brutal but publicly understandable form of justice. David's meticulous steps—executing the murderers, dismembering them, publicly hanging their bodies, and then respectfully burying Ish-bosheth’s head—demonstrates a comprehensive approach to administering justice, cleansing the land, and legitimizing his reign. It signifies not merely political maneuvering, but a spiritual cleansing to remove blood guilt that would otherwise fall on David and the nation, echoing the principles laid out in Numbers and Deuteronomy regarding the defilement of land by innocent blood. This action was crucial for the spiritual and political foundation of his united kingdom.

2 Samuel 4 12 Commentary

2 Samuel 4:12 provides a stark portrayal of David's justice. His severe response to the murderers of Ish-bosheth underscores his deep respect for the sanctity of life and the divinely-ordained principle of capital punishment for murder, especially of the innocent. David's abhorrence for bloodshed not commanded by God is consistent throughout his life, demonstrated in his treatment of Saul and the Amalekite messenger. The dismemberment and public display served as a terrifying, yet effective, deterrent against acts of regicide and factional violence, solidifying David's rule by demonstrating that lawlessness would not be tolerated. Simultaneously, the honorable burial of Ish-bosheth's head reveals David's character: magnanimous towards a fallen adversary and eager to cleanse the land of blood guilt, fostering reconciliation rather than perpetual revenge cycles. This decisive action positioned David as a just and legitimate king over all Israel, prepared to lead with righteousness.