The Murder of Ish-bosheth
2 Samuel 4
Two of Ish-bosheth's own captains, Baana and Rechab, murder him as he sleeps and carry his head to David expecting a reward. David instead has them executed for killing an innocent man, and buries Ish-bosheth's head in Abner's tomb.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHEN Jebosthe, son of Saul, heard that Abenner, son of Ner, was dead at Chebron, his hands were enfeebled, and all the men of Israel were dismayed.
BrentonAnd Jebosthe the son of Saul heard that Abenner the son of Ner had died in Chebron; and his hands were paralysed, and all the men of Israel grew faint.
GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰεβοσθὲ υἱὸς Σαοὺλ, ὅτι τέθνηκεν Ἀβεννὴρ υἱὸς Νὴρ ἐν Χεβρὼν, καὶ ἐξελύθησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες Ἰσραὴλ παρείθησαν.
KJVAnd when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
JPSAnd when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted.
2
ThomsonNow Jebosthe, son of Saul, had two captains of bands. The name of the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab. They were sons of Remmon, the Berothite, of the children of Benjamin, for Beroth had been assigned to the Benjaminites,
BrentonAnd Jebosthe the son of Saul had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Remmon the Berothite of the children of Benjamin; for Beroth was reckoned to the children of Benjamin.
GreekΚαὶ δύο ἄνδρες ἡγούμενοι συστρεμμάτων τῷ Ἰεβοσθὲ υἱῷ Σαούλ· ὄνομα τῷ ἑνὶ Βαανὰ, καὶ ὄνομα τῷ δευτέρῳ Ῥηχὰβ, υἱοὶ Ῥεμμὼν τοῦ Βηρωθαίου ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Βενιαμίν· ὅτι Βηρὼθ ἐλογίζετο τοῖς υἱοῖς Βενιαμίν·
KJVAnd 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 a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.
JPSAnd 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;
3
Thomsonand the Berothites had fled to Gothaim, and have continued to sojourn there even to this day.
BrentonAnd the Berothites ran away to Gethaim, and were sojourners there until this day.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέδρασαν οἱ Βηρωθαῖοι εἰς Γεθαὶμ, καὶ ἦσαν ἐκεῖ παροικοῦντες ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
KJVAnd the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
JPSand the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day.
4
ThomsonAnd Jonathan, son of Saul, had a son, who was lame in both his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and of his son Jonathan came from Jezrael, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she was hasting to carry him off, he happened to fall, and became lame, so he was called Memphibosthe.
BrentonAnd Jonathan Saul's son had a son lame of his feet, five years old, and he was in the way when the news of Saul and Jonathan his son came from Jezrael, and his nurse took him up, and fled; and it came to pass as he hasted and retreated, that he fell, and was lamed. And his name was Memphibosthe.
GreekΚαὶ τῷ Ἰωνάθαν υἱῷ Σαοὺλ υἱὸς πεπληγὼς τοὺς πόδας υἱὸς ἐτῶν πέντε, καὶ οὗτος ἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν τὴν ἀγγελίαν Σαοὺλ καὶ Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐξ Ἰεζραὴλ, καὶ ᾖρεν αὐτὸν ἡ τιθηνὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔφυγε· καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ σπεύδειν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀναχωρεῖν, καὶ ἔπεσε καὶ ἐχωλάνθη, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μεμφιβοσθέ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSNow 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.
5
ThomsonAnd the sons of Remmon, the Berothite, Rechab, and Baana, set out, and came in the heat of the day to the house of Jebosthe, while he was sleeping on his couch at noon.
BrentonAnd Rechab and Baana the sons of Remmon the Berothite went, and they came in the heat of the day into the house of Jebosthe; and he was sleeping on a bed at noon.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθησαν υἱοὶ Ῥεμμὼν τοῦ Βηρωθαίου Ῥηχὰβ καὶ Βαανὰ, καὶ εἰσῆλθον εν τῷ καύματι τῆς ἡμέρας εἰς οἶκον Ἰεβοσθὲ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκάθευδεν ἐν τῇ κοίτῃ τῆς μεσημβρίας.
KJVAnd the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
JPSAnd 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.
6
ThomsonNow behold the doorkeeper of his house had been cleaning wheat, and being drowsy, had fallen asleep. So Rechab and Baana, the brothers, escaped notice,
BrentonAnd, behold, the porter of the house winnowed wheat, and he slumbered and slept: and the brothers Rechab and Baana went privily into the house:
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ θυρωρὸς τοῦ οἴκου ἐκάθαιρε πυροὺς, καὶ ἐνύσταξε καὶ ἐκάθευδε· καὶ Ῥηχὰβ καὶ Βαανὰ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ διέλαθον,
KJVAnd they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
JPSAnd they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the groin; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7
Thomsonand went into the house, while Jebosthe was asleep on his couch in his bed chamber. And they smote him, and killed him, and cut off his head. And they took his head, and travelled all night, by the way leading westward,
Brentonand Jebosthe was sleeping on his bed in his chamber: and they smite him, and slay him, and take off his head: and they took his head, and went all the night by the western road.
Greekκαὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὸν οἶκον· καὶ Ἰεβοσθὲ ἐκάθευδεν ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κοιτῶνι αὐτοῦ· καὶ τύπτουσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ θανατοῦσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀφαιροῦσι τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔλαβον τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπῆλθον ὁδὸν τὴν κατὰ δυσμὰς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα.
KJVFor when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
JPSNow when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
8
Thomsonand brought the head of Jebosthe to David at Chebron, and said to the king, Behold here is the head of Jebosthe, son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; but the Lord hath executed vengeance for our lord the king on his enemies as at this day—on Saul thine enemy, and on his seed.
BrentonAnd they brought the head of Jebosthe to David to Chebron, and they said to the king, Behold the head of Jebosthe the son of Saul thy enemy, who sought thy life; and the Lord has executed for my lord the king vengeance on his enemies, as it is this day: even on Saul thy enemy, and on his seed.
GreekΚαὶ ἤνεγκαν τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰεβοσθὲ τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς Χεβρὼν, καὶ εἶπον πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ἰδοὺ ἡ κεφαλὴ Ἰεβοσθὲ υἱοῦ Σαοὺλ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ σου, ὃς ἐζήτει τὴν ψυχήν σου, καὶ ἔδωκε Κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ βασιλεῖ ἐκδίκησιν τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ, ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, ἐκ Σαοὺλ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ σου καὶ ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
JPSAnd 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 the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.’
9
ThomsonWhereupon David answered Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sons of Remmon, the Berothite, and said to them, As the Lord liveth who hath redeemed my soul from all affliction,
BrentonAnd David answered Rechab and Baana his brother, the sons of Remmon the Berothite, and said to them, As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all affliction;
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυὶδ τῷ Ῥηχὰβ καὶ τῷ Βαανὰ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ υἱοῖς Ῥεμμὼν τοῦ Βηρωθαίου, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, ζῇ Κύριος, ὃς ἐλυτρώσατο τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐκ πάσης θλίψεως, ὅτι ὁ ἀπαγγείλας μοι ὅτι τέθνηκε Σαοὺλ,
KJVAnd David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
JPSAnd David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them: ‘As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10
Thomsonwhen one told me that Saul was dead, and thought himself a messenger of good news to me, I apprehended him, and slew him at Sekelak, though he thought himself entitled to a reward from me for his good news.
Brentonhe that reported to me that Saul was dead, even he was as one bringing glad tidings before me: but I seized him and slew him in Sekelac, to whom I ought, as he thought, to have given a reward for his tidings.
Greekκαὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἐνώπιόν μου, καὶ κατέσχον αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέκτεινα αὐτὸν ἐν Σεκελὰκ, ᾧ ἔδει με δοῦναι εὐαγγέλια.
KJVWhen one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
JPSwhen one told me, saying: Behold, Saul is dead, and he was in his own eyes as though he brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, instead of giving a reward for his tidings.
11
ThomsonBut now wicked men have slain a righteous person, in his house, upon his bed. Now therefore I will avenge his blood on you and cut you off from the earth.
BrentonAnd now evil men have slain a righteous man in his house on his bed: now then I will require his blood of your hand, and I will destroy you from off the earth.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἄνδρες πονηροὶ ἀπεκτάγκασιν ἄνδρα δίκαιον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης αὐτοῦ· καὶ νῦν ἐκζητήσω τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρὸς ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐξολοθρεύσω ὑμᾶς ἐκ τῆς γῆς.
KJVHow much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
JPSHow 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?’
12
ThomsonThen David gave orders to his servants, and they instantly slew them, and cut off their hands, and their feet, and hanged them up by the pool of Chebron. And they buried the head of Jebosthe in the grave of Abenner, son of Ner.
BrentonAnd David commanded his young men, and they slay them, and cut off their hands and their feet; and they hung them up at the fountain in Chebron: and they buried the head of Jebosthe in the tomb of Abenner the son of Ner.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο Δαυὶδ τοῖς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀποκτείνουσιν αὐτούς, καὶ κολοβοῦσι τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκρέμασαν αὐτοὺς ἐπι τῆς κρήνης ἐν Χεβρὼν, καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰεβοσθὲ ἔθαψαν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ Ἀβεννὴρ υἱοῦ Νήρ.
KJVAnd David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
JPSAnd 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.