Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Samuel · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
ISHBOSHETH hearing of the death of Abner was troubled, and so was V. 1. 2.all Israel. But there were two Captaines of Bands Rechab and Banaab belonging 3.to Ishbosheth, who were of Beroth in Benjamin, but lived hitherto, as Exiles in Gittim, to which place they had fled. They now came into Ishbosheths house when he was sleeping in the heate of the day, and slew him, and V. 5, 6.cutting off his head carryed it to David. And by the way here is inserted something touching Mephibosheth, how he being 5 yeares old, when Saul and V. 4.Jonathan his father were slaine, his nurse fled with him, and in fleeing fell with him, whereby he became lame. What the cause of Rechabs and Baanahs fleeing to Gittim was, or when they fled, is not said, but R. Solomon saith, that they R Solomon.tooke part with Mephibosheth, the sonne of Jonathan, as being the sonne of the elder brother, and so one, that had more right to the kingdome, then Ishbosheth Sauls yongest sonne, and when they saw that Ishbosheth was set up by Abner to be King, they fled, wherefore mention is made together of Mephibosheth, with whom they had taken part. But this seemeth not to be so, because they are said to bee Ishbosheths men, which they were not, seeing according to this relation they never came in unto him, but rather were Mephibosheths men. Others therefore hold, that they were Captaines of Theeves and Robbers, and when Ishbosheth would have punished them therefore, they fled, and continued in Gittim untill this time, and this seemeth most probable, and the Hebr. will beare this reading, Captaines of Robbers, as the Vulgar Latin hath it, seeing the word foreign Gedudim here used signifyeh both Armies and Robbers. But why is mention made with all of Mephibosheth, if they were no partakers with him? Some say, that now Abner being dead they came and solicited Mephibosheth to take the kingdome upon him, but he being a good man refused it, and signified it to Ishbosheth, whereupon they fled for the present, but ere long returned and slew Ishbosheth being asleepe. But this agreeth not with the Text, which saith, that they were sojourners in Gittim, till this day, that is, till the newes came of Abners death, so that they did not after this flee thither, but had continued there sometime before, and Mephibosheth was but yet a childe of 12 yeares old. Lyra therefore better saith, that mention is made of Mephibosheth Lyra.in this place, he being about to tell of the death of Ishbosheth, to shew that now there was none of Sauls house left to be made King against David, seeing Mephibosheth alone was left alive, and he was same of both his feet, and so unfit for that high dignity. Gittim, to which Baanah and Rechab fled, was a City of their owne Tribe, Benjamin, Nehem: 11. 33. where they lurked, till this time. But now it is said, that they came to Ishbosheths house as if they would fetch wheat, that is, disguising themselves, as if they had beene Merchants, and came to buy wheat, that they might not bee suspected, for the King happily had a great revenue of wheat, which he sold unto Merchants. The Vulgar Latin hath it, bringing eares of wheat, that is, say Lyra, Comestor, and Hugo, as if they brought some first fruites unto the King to honour him, but Lyra Schol. Histor. Hugo Cardin.confesseth, that Hebr. it is, they came as though they would fetch or buy wheat, which is the best, because first fruits were not brought unto the King, but to the Priests. Comming thus into the house they found Ishbosheth asleep, and slew him, and then the manner how hee lay more particularly being V. 7.described, v: 7. helay in the bed-chamber, for in hot countries, when the sun is at the highest, men commonly went into their chambers after dinner to sleepe a while: and having slain him they cut off his head, and tooke it away with them in token of the murther committed. Ishbosheth, saith Martyr, was worthy thus to Peter Martyr.be cut off, and by a more grievous death, because he fought as it were against God, after the manner of the Titans, in seeking to hinder David from the kingdome, which God had assigned unto him. And well he was slaine in his sleepe, who had beene sluggish, and done nothing like a King all his time, but all by Abner: and by his death in his sleepe in his owne house, wee may see, to Note. what dangers we are subject, when wee may seeme to be most safe, that we bee never secure, and lying downe to sleepe, remember, that we know not, whether ever wee shall rise up againe or no. Plutarch in the life of Lucullus saith, Plutarch.that hee was saved by sleeping in the heat of the day: for Ortacus sent by Mahridates treacherously to kill him under a pretence of friendship, when hee could not bee admitted to speake with him, because hee was asleepe, fearing lest by delaying his treason should bee discovered, he returned againe without staying to doe that bloudy act. Now although Ishbosheth was worthy to dye and God secretly wrought by his providence to take him out of the way, that David might no longer be hindered from the kingdome, yet this excuseth not the wickednesse of these two men who slew him treacherously, partly to bee revenged upon him, whom they feared and hated, and partly hoping to receive a great reward at the hands of David. And therefore he dealt with them according to their deserts, when he put them to death therefore. Yet they come unto David with a most plausible oration, the Lord hath avenged my V. 8.Lord the King this day of Saul and of his seed, thus making God a party in their murther, when as this was not the end that they aimed at, to fulfill Gods will herein, or to doe any good to David, but at other ends of their owne, as was said before. In the like case such as have beene led onelyonly by the light of nature, have delivered the treacherous to be put to death, although they pretended their good in thus conspiring against the life of their owne Lords, as Fabritius, who signified to Pyrrhus the treachery of his Physitian, who would have poisoned him being his King to gratifie Fabritius, and the Romans sent the schoolemaster of the Faliscilii, that would have betrayed their City unto them, backe to be punished, and Caesar lamented the death of Pompey his enemy, and put to death the murtherer.
David cleane contrary to the expectation of these two men, told them most seriously, how he had put to death one, that brought tidings to him to Ziklag V. 9. 10.of Sauls death, thinking to be well rewarded for his labour, and therefore giveth sentence against them, that they were much more worthy to dye, and so he commanded them to be slqaine. But whereas in speaking of their fault he saith, they had slaine a righteous man in his owne house, it is to be understood, that he doth not meane one simply righteous, for so Ishbosheth was not, but comparatively, for he was more righteous then they, and so Judah is said to have justified Samaria in her wickednesse, because shee was more wicked. By this severity towards these men, Davids innocency was manifested to the winning of mens hearts unto him. And as they had cut off the head of Ishbosheth, so he caused their hands, which committed that murther, to be cut off, and their feet, that carryed them to it, and hanged them up over the poole in Hebron, to be a spectacle to all men, that others might feare to commit the like wickednesse. If it shall seeme not justify able to adde this to their punishment, it is answered, the Magistrate, as he seeth cause, may adde to the punishments prescribed in the law of God, but diminish them he may not, so the Rabbins, and thus David afterwards, when Nathan had told how a rich man tooke the Lambe of a poore man, vowed, that he should dye and restore it fourfold, 2 Sam. 12. 5.whereas by the law restitution only was appointed. And the head of Ishbosheth hee caused to be buried in Abners Sepulcher, so in all things he sought still to honour the house of Saul, and to shew his affection towards him, who was his utter enemy, that we might learne to doe likewise.
Morally Hugo saith, by these two, that slew Ishbosheth, wounding him under Hugo Card. The Morall.the fifth ribbe, wee may understand gluttony and drunkennesse slaying the soule by destroying all grace in the heart, whilst a man sleepeth sucurely herein.