Question 1

Who was Ish-bosheth, and what was happening when he was killed?

Accepted Answer

Ish-bosheth was one of Saul’s sons who became king over part of Israel after Saul died. Abner, Saul’s former commander, had set him up as ruler and was his main support. When Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had been killed in Hebron, his courage failed and his followers were unsettled. The kingdom was weak and confused. At this low point, two of his own captains, Baanah and Rechab, used their position to get into his house at midday and murdered him while he lay resting on his bed.

Question 2

Who were Baanah and Rechab, and why is their betrayal so serious?

Accepted Answer

Baanah and Rechab were brothers and captains of bands under Ish-bosheth. They were sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, a town counted to the tribe of Benjamin, the same tribe as Saul and Ish-bosheth. Their crime is heightened because they were not outsiders, but men of his own tribe and servants who should have guarded him. Instead of protecting their king, they pretended to come for wheat, entered his house, and killed him. Their act mixed treachery, ingratitude, and bloodshed, all while they later tried to cover it with religious language.

Question 3

Why is Mephibosheth mentioned in this passage about Ish-bosheth’s death?

Accepted Answer

Mephibosheth is Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. He became lame in both feet when he was five, after news came that Saul and Jonathan had died in battle. His nurse tried to flee in fear that the child would be killed, but in the hurry he fell and was permanently injured. This story is placed here to show the weak state of Saul’s family. The man who had the first claim through Jonathan was a disabled child, not able to lead in war or court. This helps explain why others thought they could remove Ish-bosheth and not face strong family defense.

Question 4

How did Baanah and Rechab manage to kill Ish-bosheth in his own house?

Accepted Answer

They used a mix of timing, laziness around them, and a false pretense. Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed at noon, when the heat of the day made it easier to slip past guards. The brothers came “as though” they were fetching wheat, likely for feeding soldiers, which would seem like normal duty for captains. In those simpler times, the storage for grain and the royal rooms could be very near each other. While acting as if they were on routine business, they went into the inner part of the house, struck him while he was on his bed, killed and beheaded him, then escaped by traveling through the plain at night.

Question 5

Why did Baanah and Rechab bring Ish-bosheth’s head to David in Hebron?

Accepted Answer

They wanted reward and favour from David. After killing Ish-bosheth, they cut off his head and carried it all night to Hebron, where David was king. When they reached David, they called Ish-bosheth “the son of Saul thine enemy” and claimed that the Lord had avenged David that day on Saul and his seed. By speaking this way, they tried to present their murder as if it were God’s work done for David’s benefit, expecting David to be pleased and to honour them for removing his rival. Their words show how people can use God’s name to excuse their own sin.

Question 6

What does this passage show about weak leadership in Ish-bosheth’s life?

Accepted Answer

The passage pictures Ish-bosheth as fearful and passive. When he hears of Abner’s death, his “hands are feeble,” meaning he loses heart and resolve. Instead of taking wise action in a crisis, he is lying on his bed at noon while his kingdom is unsettled. He seems to depend almost entirely on others for strength. This kind of weak, slothful leadership leaves him exposed. Those close to him find it easy to betray him, and his people are troubled and unsure. The story quietly warns that when a leader yields to fear and idleness, both life and kingdom become vulnerable.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God’s justice and human sin?

Accepted Answer

The men who killed Ish-bosheth spoke as if God had used them to avenge David, saying the Lord had repaid Saul’s house. But the story itself shows their act as treachery and murder. They had no command from God to do this. They used God’s name to try to cover their own ambition and violence. At the same time, God was indeed moving history so that Saul’s failing house would give way to David’s promised rule. So we see that God’s purposes move forward even when people act with wrong motives, yet their sin is still their own, and they cannot excuse it by speaking religious words.

Question 8

Why might some readers find this passage difficult to understand today?

Accepted Answer

This passage can feel hard for several reasons. It involves political murder, a beheading, and people using God’s name while doing evil. Modern readers may struggle with how God’s long-term plan for Israel relates to these dark actions. Also, Mephibosheth’s sudden mention in the middle of a violent story can seem out of place. But the story is giving an honest picture of how broken Saul’s house had become and how people around him behaved when power was shifting. It helps us see the difference between God’s quiet faithfulness and the selfish, fearful choices people often make in times of change.

2 Samuel 4:1

And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

The Murder of Ish-bosheth

metadata.crossReferences

2 Samuel 4:1

And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

share.title

share.allVerses

share.verseWithContext

share.currentVerse

The Murder of Ish-bosheth

metadata.crossReferences