2 Samuel 4:6

And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would haue fetched wheat, and they smote him vnder the fift rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 2 Samuel 4:6 (KJV)

as though

they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth

rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 2 Samuel 4:6 (KJV)

In this verse we find ourselves in the aftermath of the death of King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, a time of transition and upheaval for Israel. David, who had been anointed by the prophet Samuel years earlier, is poised to become the ruler over all Israel while the nation adjusts to the loss of its former king.

Historical background shows that after Saul’s death in battle the kingdom was divided. David became king of Judah, and Ishbosheth, another son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel. This division set the stage for political tension and competing loyalties within the nation.

The assassination of Ishbosheth is described in the verse: two men, Rechab and Baanah, who were captains in Ishbosheth’s army, entered his house while he lay on his bed at noon. They deceived the guards by pretending to fetch wheat, but instead they killed Ishbosheth by striking him under the fifth rib, after which they escaped.

The motive for the assassination is not explicitly mentioned in the text. The drafts suggest that their actions may have been influenced by the political climate and a desire for personal gain, possibly hoping to gain favor with David and secure positions of power in the new kingdom.

David’s response is clear: he did not order or approve the killing. When he learned of Ishbosheth’s death, David expressed disapproval and grief. He ordered that Rechab and Baanah be executed; their hands and feet were cut off and their bodies were hanged by the pool in Hebron as a public display of justice and a statement against political assassinations.