2 Samuel 4 6

2 Samuel 4:6 kjv

And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

2 Samuel 4:6 nkjv

And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

2 Samuel 4:6 niv

They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

2 Samuel 4:6 esv

And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

2 Samuel 4:6 nlt

The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her.

2 Samuel 4 verses

2 Samuel 4 6 Meaning

2 Samuel 4:6 narrates the treacherous assassination of Ish-bosheth, King Saul's son and claimant to the throne. Rechab and Baanah, two military leaders serving Ish-bosheth, gained entry into his house under the pretense of collecting wheat. Once inside and having disarmed suspicion, they brutally murdered the vulnerable king by stabbing him in a vital area, and then swiftly fled the scene. This act exemplifies opportunistic betrayal and cold-blooded regicide, carried out with deceit and cowardice, highlighting the perilous political climate of the time and the lengths to which individuals would go for power or perceived favor.

2 Samuel 4 6 Context

Chapter 4 of 2 Samuel describes the final decline of Saul's house and the opportunistic actions taken by certain individuals to curry favor with David. Following the strategic withdrawal of Abner's support for Ish-bosheth and Abner's subsequent assassination (detailed in chapter 3), Ish-bosheth's power base in Mahanaim had completely crumbled. He was left weak, isolated, and effectively powerless. This vulnerability presented a chance for two of his captains, Rechab and Baanah, to betray and murder him, believing they would be rewarded by David for removing his rival. Historically, this period marked a critical transition as David consolidated his claim to the throne over all Israel, previously reigning only over Judah. The murder underscores the widespread political intrigue and ruthlessness prevalent during this shift of power, while also setting the stage for David to demonstrate his consistent moral standard regarding illegitimate violence.

2 Samuel 4 6 Word analysis

• And they came into the house, as though they would have fetched wheat;

  • they came into the house: The Hebrew phrase ba'u el-habayit (בָּאוּ אֶל־הַבַּיִת) implies that the assassins gained ready access to Ish-bosheth's private dwelling. This suggests a position of trust or familiar access, indicating that they were not strangers, but individuals likely part of his household or immediate retinue. This trust made their infiltration possible without arousing suspicion.
  • as though they would have fetched wheat;: The original Hebrew is ke-lukhei khittim (כְּלוֹקְחֵי חִטִּים), which literally translates to "like grain-takers" or "like those fetching grain."
    • Significance: This detail highlights their deceptive stratagem. Fetching grain would have been a routine, common, and unremarkable activity in an ancient household, particularly for military provisions or supplies. This feigned errand provided them with an innocent-seeming reason to be inside the royal residence and to approach Ish-bosheth's personal quarters without drawing attention or alarm, demonstrating their premeditated and cunning treachery. This specific deceit underscores the cowardice of the act.

• and they smote him in the fifth rib:

  • smote him: The Hebrew verb va-yakkuhu (וַיַּכֻּהוּ) signifies a violent and decisive blow. It conveys a sudden, powerful, and deliberate act of striking or slaying, emphasizing the force and intent behind the murder.
  • in the fifth rib:: The Hebrew 'el ha-khomesh (אֶל־הַחֹמֶשׁ) is a debated anatomical phrase. While traditionally translated as "fifth rib" in many versions, scholarly interpretations widely suggest it refers to a particularly vulnerable and often fatal area of the torso, rather than a specific rib count.
    • Meaning: Many commentators propose it refers to the lower abdomen, the flank, the belly, or even a region around the liver or kidney. The Septuagint renders it as "in the stomach." It denotes a soft, unprotected area that would lead to immediate death, as opposed to an armored or heavily muscled region.
    • Significance: The precision of aiming for such a vital and undefended spot indicates the assassins' intent for a swift, lethal blow, committed while Ish-bosheth was likely asleep or incapacitated. It highlights the cowardly nature of the attack, targeting a defenseless victim.

• and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

  • escaped: The Hebrew nifletu (נִפְפְלָטוּ) means "they escaped" or "they fled."
    • Significance: Their immediate flight confirms the clandestine, criminal, and opportunistic nature of their act. It reveals their desire to avoid any immediate consequences and signals their full awareness that their deed was not honorable but worthy of severe punishment. Their flight further emphasizes the cowardly and disreputable character of the regicide.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • they came into the house, as though they would have fetched wheat: This phrase establishes the pre-meditated deception and exploitation of trust. It vividly paints a picture of cunning infiltration, highlighting that this was not a confrontation or battle, but a stealthy, internal betrayal, violating the sanctity of the king's dwelling and the presumed safety within. This deception magnifies the moral reprehensibility of their actions.
  • and they smote him in the fifth rib: This stark, terse clause forms the horrific core of the verse. It details the culmination of the assassins' plan—a single, fatal, and decisive blow delivered to a highly vulnerable area. This specific detail implies the brutal efficiency and unhesitating intent to kill, delivered against an individual who was not prepared to defend himself, possibly while he was sleeping.
  • and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped: This concluding phrase marks the swiftness of the crime and the perpetrators' subsequent evasion. It immediately follows the act, signifying their swift flight and abandonment of the scene. It characterizes them not as valiant warriors or righteous avengers, but as fearful murderers seeking to escape accountability, setting the stage for divine and Davidic justice.

2 Samuel 4 6 Bonus section

• Textual Variants and Interpretations: The exact meaning of הַחֹמֶשׁ (ha-chomesh) or "fifth rib" has been extensively discussed by scholars. While some argue for a literal anatomical interpretation, others propose that it simply indicates a soft, unarmored part of the lower torso (like the stomach, groin, or abdominal cavity). The fluidity in translation (from "belly" to "flank" to "abdomen") across various Bible versions highlights the ongoing scholarly debate, yet the consensus remains that it refers to a critical and fatal area.
• Political Implications: Ish-bosheth's death meant the absolute end of Saul's lineage as a viable royal line for Israel. This final elimination of David's last remaining rival (albeit a weak one) meant that the path was now clear for David to be universally acknowledged as king by all the tribes of Israel, ultimately culminating in the elders coming to him in Hebron in 2 Samuel 5 to crown him. The apparent "convenience" of the murder serves as a literary foil for David's just character, which God would vindicate.
• Literary Echoes: The narrative style in 2 Samuel 4:6—swift, brutal, and emphasizing treachery—echoes similar accounts of violent regime changes in the ancient Near East. However, the subsequent divine condemnation of the assassins (through David's righteous judgment) provides a distinctive Biblical commentary that elevates the divine standard above typical human power plays.

2 Samuel 4 6 Commentary

2 Samuel 4:6 serves as a pivotal, albeit brief, narrative account of Ish-bosheth's murder, exposing the depths of human treachery and ambition. The meticulous description of the assassins' deceptive entry under the guise of fetching wheat—a mundane activity—is crucial, revealing the calculated and premeditated nature of their betrayal. This act of disingenuous trust underscores their moral depravity and sets their deed apart from any act of honorable warfare; it was a cowardly murder, not a legitimate challenge. The strike to the "fifth rib," though anatomically debated, universally points to a vulnerable spot designed for instant fatality, implying that Ish-bosheth was helpless and unsuspecting, likely in a state of rest.

This narrative sharply contrasts with God's righteous standards for leadership and David's own patient wait for God's timing. While it might seem convenient for David to have a rival removed, his consistent response to such unauthorized bloodshed (as seen with the Amalekite who claimed to kill Saul, and later Joab for Abner's death) emphasizes his reliance on divine providence rather than human machinations. Rechab and Baanah acted solely for personal gain, expecting a reward from David, demonstrating a worldly view of power gained through violence and betrayal. However, David's immediate condemnation and severe punishment of their act (2 Sam 4:9-12) cement his legitimacy and his unwavering commitment to justice, positioning him as a ruler aligned with God's principles, who abhors innocent bloodshed, regardless of political expediency.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • The danger of judging situations based on immediate personal gain rather than righteous principles.
  • The destructive power of unchecked ambition leading to betrayal of trust.
  • The contrast between achieving goals through deceit versus patient, ethical means.