2 Samuel 4: Ishbosheth is dead

Synopsis:

After Abner’s death, all of Israel is worried.  Two of Saul’s captains take it upon themselves to kill Ishbosheth in his sleep.  They bring the head to David expecting to be rewarded. They are instead killed. First their feet and hands are cut off, and then they are hung up over a pool in Hebron. The head of Ishbosheth is buried in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

In other words:

Ishbosheth, son of Saul is killed. His murderers are put to death.

Favorite bit:

2 Samuel 3:6 – when Rachab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth they smite him under the fifth rib. This number comes up  A lot. Pretty much all the killings in this book involve someone being stabbed under the fifth rib. Must be near the heart.

Oddest bit:

2 Samuel 3:4 - We are told of Jonathon’s son Mephibosheth – who was 5 when Jonathon and Saul were killed. His murder took him and fled, but he is dropped and becomes lame.  He doesn’t have anything to do with this story. Not sure why we are told of it.

Least favorite bit:

2 Samuel 3:10-11 – David basically schools Rechab and Baanah for killing Ishbosheth. The guy who told me Saul was dead thought he was going to be rewarded, but I killed him. Imagine what I am going to do with you two, who killed a righteous man in his sleep!

Moral Lesson Learned: 

Don’t kill people in their sleep (2 Samuel 4)