2 Samuel 4:1 – 12 “Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed. Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties: One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin (Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and live there as foreigners to this very day).
And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”
So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.”
In the days of wooden sailing ships, it was said that if a ship was sinking, any rats on that ship would immediately jump into the water and swim away to save themselves. Saul and his three warrior sons have died in battle. Abner, the army commander who put Saul’s son Ish – bosheth on the throne is also dead. All the tribes who have sided with Abner and Ish – bosheth have no idea what to do next. Meanwhile, two leaders of raiding parties who have remained loyal up to this time decide that Ish – bosheth’s royal ship is sinking and that it’s time to jump ship. “Why not murder Ish – bosheth and bring his head to David as proof?” these men think to themselves. “Surely, David will be thrilled and will reward us richly. Perhaps we will be able to continue our raiding under David as we have been doing under Ish – bosheth. Besides, Ish – bosheth is such a weakling that nobody will really miss him!”
Poor Ish – bosheth! He never has a chance. Perhaps Ish – bosheth has never wanted to become king in the first place and simply wants to be left alone. Ish – bosheth is no soldier and Rechab and Baanah are seasoned veterans, accustomed to killing whenever necessary. The two raiders sneak into the house in the hot part of the day when Ish – bosheth is napping and murder him in his sleep. Then these two villains cut off Ish – bosheth’s head and travel all night to reach David at Hebron, but David gives them a rude awakening. Rechab and Baanah stride into David’s presence, holding up a severed head. David immediately recognizes the head as that of Ish – bosheth and demands to know what’s going on. The two answer “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
Hmm! Seems someone hasn’t been paying attention to David’s actions at all. David has spared Saul’s life on many occasions and has killed the young man who has brought Saul’s crown and arm band to him as proof of Saul’s death. David has steadfastly refused to take vengeance upon Saul, any member of Saul’s family, or even upon Abner, who commanded Saul’s army. As far as David is concerned, Ish – bosheth is no threat whatsoever, and David is planning to leave him alone. Now these two clowns have created a new problem for David. If David fails to deal with this situation swiftly and appropriately, he will be implicated in Ish – bosheth’s murder. In addition, David is horrified. These men are supposed to be loyal to Ish – bosheth; instead, they have slaughtered him. Loyalty counts for a great deal with David, and these men are traitors. David orders the two to be executed, for their hands and feet to be cut off as signs that they will never do anything or go anywhere anymore, and for their bodies to be hung by the pool at Hebron where everyone fetching water will see them. David then takes the head of Ish – bosheth and buries it in Abner’s tomb, the best way he can honor Ish – bosheth under the circumstances.
APPLICATION: Even though God has anointed David to become King over all of Israel, the path to the throne is a rocky one. Between army commanders bent on their private vendettas and self – serving raiders who murder in hopes of gaining favor, David has a tough road to follow.
What can we learn from this part of David’s life? Guided by God, David has already analyzed the situation with Ish – bosheth and is not worried at all. It’s quite likely that David has already planned to invite Ish – bosheth to have some small role at the palace to make sure that Ish – bosheth is taken care of. The lesson here is simple: don’t consider someone a threat when they are not.
Now Ish – bosheth lies murdered, his body mutilated. All that David can do is to honor the one part of Ish – bosheth’s body available by burying the head in Abner’s tomb as publicly as possible. David also quickly dispatches the traitors who have murdered Ish – bosheth and treats their bodies with all the scorn he has at his disposal, mutilating the bodies and hanging them where everyone will see them. David is taking these actions both for damage control and also to reassure those in Israel that he has had no part in this heinous crime. When you face a situation in which someone has done something wrong allegedly on your behalf, make it known that you have had no part in such a disaster and that you do not approve of it
Long ago, David took a decision that he would not seek vengeance from Saul or from any member of his family. Now David is continuing to honor that decision. By holding fast to that decision, David is taking the moral high road and is continuing to demonstrate why God has chosen him. David refuses to yield to the desire for revenge, and so should you. There is a horrible saying that vengeance is a dish best served cold. Truly, vengeance is a dish that is best not served, period!
Recognize when someone is a threat and when they are not. If another person commits a crime and attempts to curry favor with you because of that crime, make it as clear as possible that you have had no hand in this matter. Once you have sought guidance from God and He has given it, don’t second guess yourself. Continue to follow God closely. These principles helped David find a way through messes created by others and they can also help you. May God bless you as you lead!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are many of us in positions of leadership who find those around us are attempting to mislead and to manipulate us, sometimes in ways that are highly embarrassing. Lord, guide us and lead us through the challenges just as you led David. We ask this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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