1Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul, heard that Abner had died in Hebron. Then he wasn’t so brave anymore. And all the Israelites became alarmed.2Two men in Ish-Bosheth’s army led small fighting groups that attacked their enemies. The names of the men were Baanah and Rekab. They were sons of Rimmon from the town of Beeroth. Rimmon was from the tribe of Benjamin. Beeroth is considered to be part of Benjamin.3That’s because the people who used to live in Beeroth had run away to Gittaim. They have lived there as outsiders to this day.4Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son named Mephibosheth. Both of Mephibosheth’s feet were hurt. He was five years old when the news that Saul and Jonathan had died came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and ran. But as she hurried to get away, he fell down. That’s how his feet were hurt.5Rekab and Baanah started out for the house of Ish-Bosheth. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth. They arrived there during the hottest time of the day. Ish-Bosheth was taking his early afternoon nap.6Rekab and his brother Baanah went into the inside part of the house. They acted as if they were going to get some wheat. Instead, they stabbed Ish-Bosheth in the stomach. Then they slipped away.7They had gone into the house while Ish-Bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They stabbed him and killed him. Then they cut off his head and took it with them. They travelled all night through the Arabah Valley.8They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to King David at Hebron. They said to him, ‘Here’s the head of Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul. Saul was your enemy. He often tried to kill you. Today the LORD has paid back Saul and his family. He has let you get even with them. You are our king and master.’9David gave an answer to Rekab and his brother Baanah. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth. David said, ‘The LORD has saved me from every trouble.10Someone once told me, “Saul is dead.” He thought he was bringing me good news. But I grabbed him. I had him put to death in Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! And that’s just as sure as the LORD is alive.11Now you evil men have killed a man in his own house. He hadn’t done anything wrong. You killed him while he was lying on his own bed. You spilled his blood. So shouldn’t I spill your blood? Shouldn’t I wipe you off the face of the earth?’12Then David gave an order to his men. They killed Rekab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet. They hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they buried the head of Ish-Bosheth in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
1När Sauls son Is-Boset hörde om Abners död i Hebron tappade han alldeles modet, och detsamma gällde hela hans folk, Israel.2-3Två bröder, Baana och Rekab, var ledare för kung Is-Bosets plundringsstyrkor. De var söner till Rimmon, som kom från Beerot i Benjamins land. De räknas som benjaminiter men bor nu som främlingar i Gittaim.4Jonatan, Sauls son, hade en son som var handikappad i fötterna. Han var fem år gammal när Saul och Jonatan dödades vid slaget i Jisreel. När nyheten om detta nådde huvudstaden hade barnets sköterska flytt med pojken, men hon hade fallit omkull och tappat honom så att han skadade fötterna.5Rekab och Baana kom till kung Is-Bosets hus en dag medan han vilade sig.6-7De gick in i det inre av huset, som om de kommit för att hämta en säck vete, men i stället smög de sig in i kungens sovrum där de mördade honom och högg av honom huvudet. De tog huvudet med sig och flydde hela natten genom öknen och undkom.8I Hebron överlämnade de huvudet till David."Se här!" sa de. "Detta är Is-Bosets huvud! Han var son till din fiende Saul, som försökte döda dig. I dag har Herren gett dig hämnd över Saul och hela hans familj."9Men David blev förtvivlad och svarade: "Jag svär vid Herren, som räddade mig från mina fiender,10att jag dödade den man som talade om för mig att Saul var död och trodde sig komma med goda nyheter. Så belönade jag honom.11Därför är det inte mer än rätt att jag gör på samma sätt med er som har dödat en oskyldig man i hans eget hus och till och med i hans egen säng. Ni ska utrotas från jorden.12På Davids befallning dödade sedan hans män Baana och Rekab. Man högg av deras händer och fötter och hängde upp kropparna bredvid dammen i Hebron. Is-Bosets huvud begravdes i Abners grav i Hebron.