1And when Ish-bosheth , Saul ’s son , heard that Abner was dead in Hebron , his hands became feeble , and all the Israelites were troubled. 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 : 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim , and have been sojourners there until 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 .
The Reaction of David
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 . 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 , 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 . 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? 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 .