2 Samuel 4 2

2 Samuel 4:2 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 4:2 nkjv

Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin,

2 Samuel 4:2 niv

Now Saul's son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin?Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin,

2 Samuel 4:2 esv

Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin;

2 Samuel 4:2 nlt

Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth's raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin's territory

2 Samuel 4 verses

2 Samuel 4 2 Meaning

This verse introduces Baanah and Rekab, two brothers who were "leaders of raiding bands" under Ish-Bosheth, King Saul's surviving son and rival king to David. It precisely identifies them as "sons of Rimmon the Beerothite" and adds the crucial geographical and tribal detail that Beeroth, their hometown, was considered part of the tribal territory of Benjamin. This identification sets the stage for the dramatic and opportunistic assassination that follows in the narrative, revealing the complex political and social dynamics of the period of civil war in Israel.

2 Samuel 4 2 Context

Chapter 4 of 2 Samuel details the downfall of Ish-Bosheth's kingdom, leading to the ultimate consolidation of David's reign over all Israel. Following the death of Saul's capable commander Abner in the previous chapter, Ish-Bosheth's grip on power, already weak, utterly collapses. This verse serves as the immediate precursor to his assassination, meticulously identifying the agents of this pivotal act. The broader historical context is a volatile civil war period marked by shifting loyalties, political intrigue, and opportunistic violence as David's power steadily rises and the house of Saul wanes. The mention of Beeroth's connection to Benjamin highlights the intricate tribal loyalties and historical grievances at play.

2 Samuel 4 2 Word analysis

• Now Saul's son: Refers to Ish-Bosheth, introduced in 2 Samuel 2:8 as the surviving heir of Saul whom Abner crowned king over parts of Israel. His vulnerability is implicitly clear as the narrative focuses on his approaching end.
• had: Indicates possession or being associated with. It implies these men were under Ish-Bosheth's command or associated with his forces.
• two men: The immediate identification of a specific pair signals their upcoming narrative importance.
• who were army leaders: Hebrew: sar gedudim (שָׂר גְּדוּדִים), which translates to "leader/chief of raiding bands." This title implies a commander, but for small, possibly irregular or mercenary-like forces, characteristic of the unstable political climate. Such "bands" often engaged in plundering and opportunism.
• one was named Baanah: Hebrew: בַּעֲנָה (Baa’nāh). A proper name, likely meaning "in affliction" or "son of affliction," though not directly relevant to his character's actions in the narrative.
• and the other Rekab: Hebrew: רֵכָב (Rêkāv). A proper name, possibly meaning "rider" or "chariot." Again, the literal meaning does not immediately reveal anything about his actions here.
• they were sons of Rimmon: The mention of their father’s name, Rimmon (רִמּוֹן), provides a clear familial link, identifying them as a unit. Rimmon means "pomegranate," or could reference an Aramean deity, but here it is simply a personal name.
• the Beerothite: Hebrew: בְּאֵרֹתִ֛י (B’erôthî). This is a crucial detail identifying their hometown as Beeroth. Beeroth was one of the four Gibeonite cities mentioned in Joshua 9:17, meaning these men were descendants of the Gibeonites with whom Joshua had made an inviolable covenant (Joshua 9).
• a Beerothite by birth: The phrase "by birth" or "from the sons of Beeroth" further emphasizes their intrinsic identity and lineage from Beeroth. This strengthens the connection to their Gibeonite ancestry.
• For Beeroth was counted as part of Benjamin: This parenthetical explanatory clause is vital for understanding the complex tribal loyalties and the implicit political reasoning. Although Gibeonites by ancestry, Beeroth was allocated to the territory of the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:25), Saul's own tribe. This likely meant Beerothites were functionally associated with Benjamin. This detail subtly provides a backdrop to their potential mixed loyalties or explains their immediate proximity to Ish-Bosheth (of Benjamin) while simultaneously hinting at an unresolved Gibeonite grievance from Saul's past actions (2 Sam 21:1-2).

2 Samuel 4 2 Bonus section

The careful attention paid by the biblical narrator to the identity and origin of Baanah and Rekab suggests more than just background detail. It subtly links their treacherous act to the long-standing, unresolved theological issue of Saul's violation of the Gibeonite covenant. The covenant with the Gibeonites was sworn before the LORD (Joshua 9:18-20) and Saul's later attempt to destroy them was a grave sin against God's solemn promise, bringing a subsequent famine upon Israel (2 Samuel 21:1). Thus, Baanah and Rekab, as Beerothites (Gibeonites by descent), though acting out of selfish ambition, can also be viewed by theologically-minded readers as unwitting instruments in the unfolding divine justice against Saul's house for his past transgression. This layer adds a profound depth to an otherwise straightforward account of betrayal. It highlights that God's justice often works through diverse means, sometimes even through the impure motives of individuals.

2 Samuel 4 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 4:2 precisely identifies the two opportunistic assassins of Ish-Bosheth. The detailed naming of Baanah and Rekab, sons of Rimmon, underscores their individual accountability for their impending crime, contrasting them with the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1 who falsely claimed responsibility for Saul's death. Their title, "leaders of raiding bands," portrays them not as regular army officers, but as figures suited to the lawless, unsettled period of civil war, ready to exploit chaos for personal gain. The critical information about their origin, Beeroth, is particularly rich in subtext. Being from Beeroth, one of the Gibeonite cities (Joshua 9:17), subtly connects them to the Gibeonites. This lineage becomes significant because Saul had previously sought to annihilate the Gibeonites in his zeal for Israel, breaching a long-standing divine covenant (2 Samuel 21:1-2). While the text does not explicitly state that Baanah and Rekab acted out of Gibeonite vengeance, their origin, coupled with their base within Benjaminite territory (and thus, nominally associated with Saul's dwindling house), creates a layer of irony and perhaps a darker implication of divine retribution or unresolved historical grievances playing out. Their immediate motivation, as revealed by their actions (2 Sam 4:8), was undoubtedly the hope of gaining favor and reward from David, demonstrating the volatile ethics of the time. However, their ultimate fate at David's hands confirms that even if their action cleared a path to David's throne, shedding innocent blood for self-advancement was a grave transgression.