They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night, and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.” But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
Comment: This short passage leads me to several different emotional responses. First I am glad that the Bible doesn’t cover the bad and make its heroes all perfect. Second – It is good to see David now about to lead the people whom God had said that he would. The two brothers wanted good but acted evilly. Third – David’s response is honourable but his handed out punishment pretty nasty. I guess that to hang them was what you would have expected of a migratory people (Jerusalem had not yet been established as their capital) but why cut off their hands and feet? Fourth – Ish-bosheth was treated with respect, I imagine because of his relationship to Saul whom David always saw as God’s appointee.
Prayer: Help me to make wise and just decisions, O Lord.
As I read it! 