2 Samuel 4

1And whenIsh-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

1When Saul's son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all the people of Israel were very worried.

2And Ish-bosheth, 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 the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin:

2Ish-bosheth had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other was Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. (Beeroth was considered part of Benjamin's territory,

3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day).

3even though the people of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.)

4Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

4Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son named Mephibosheth who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news about the deaths of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried away, he fell and became lame.

5And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon.

5Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, set out and arrived at Ish-bosheth's house in the heat of the day, while he was taking his noontime nap.

6And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

6They went into the middle of the house as if they were going to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.

7They had entered the house while he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking his head with them, they traveled all night through the Jordan Valley.

8And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; and Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

8They brought Ish-bosheth's head to David at Hebron and said to the king, 'Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of your enemy Saul, who tried to kill you. Today the LORD has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his offspring.'

9And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

9David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every trouble,

10when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.

10when someone told me, "Saul is dead," thinking he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!

11How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

11How much more, then, when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed! Shouldn't I now demand his blood from your hands and rid the earth of you?'

12And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.

12So David gave the order to his young men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took Ish-bosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb at Hebron.