Teks -- 2 Samuel 4:1-3 (NET)

Ish-bosheth is killed

4:1 When Ish-bosheth the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, and all Israel was afraid. 4:2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were in charge of raiding units; one was named Baanah and the other Recab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was a Benjaminite. (Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin, 4:3 for the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have remained there as resident foreigners until the present time.)

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Clarke: 2Sa 4:1 - All the Israelites were troubled

All the Israelites were troubled - Abner was their great support; and on him they depended; for it appears that Ish-bosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a sovereign.

Clarke: 2Sa 4:2

Captains of bands - Principes latronum , captains of banditti, says the Vulgate; the Syriac is the same. Whether Ish-bosheth kept bands of marauders, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry off grain, provisions, cattle, etc., we know not; but such persons would be well qualified for the bloody work in which these two men were afterwards employed.

Clarke: 2Sa 4:3 - The Beerothites fled to Gittaim

The Beerothites fled to Gittaim - Probably the same as Gath; as Ramathaim is the same as Ramah.

TSK: 2Sa 4:1 - his hands // and all

his hands : 2Sa 17:2; Ezr 4:4; Neh 6:9; Isa 13:7, Isa 35:3; Jer 6:24, Jer 50:43; Zep 3:16

and all : Mat 2:2, Mat 2:3

TSK: 2Sa 4:2 - captains // other // Beeroth

captains : 2Sa 3:22; 2Ki 5:2, 2Ki 6:23

other : Heb. second

Beeroth : Jos 9:17, Jos 18:25

TSK: 2Sa 4:3

1Sa 31:7; Neh 11:33

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Sa 4:1 - His hands were feeble

His hands were feeble his spirit, and courage, and strength failed him. This phrase is used in the same sense Ezr 4:1 Neh 6:9 Isa 13:7 35:3 . The Israelites were troubled, because now they were unable to oppose David, and doubtful of obtaining his favour, now Abner their peace-maker was dead.

Poole: 2Sa 4:2 - Of the children of Benjamin // Beeroth also, was reckoned to Benjamin

Of the children of Benjamin of Ish-bosheth’ s own tribe, whom therefore he trusted the more; and this gave them opportunity to execute their wicked design.

Beeroth also, was reckoned to Benjamin: this is added as the reason why he called them Beerothites , because though Beeroth was now in the hands and possession of the Philistines, 1Sa 31:7 , yet of right it belonged to the Benjamites, Jos 18:25 .

Poole: 2Sa 4:3 - And // Beerothites fled // Gittaim

And or, yet , or but ; for this comes in to anticipate an objection against what he had now said. It is true, saith he, the

Beerothites fled as others did, upon the overthrow of Saul and his army, 1Sa 31:7 , to a place called

Gittaim 2Sa 4:3 ; not that in Benjamin, Neh 11:33 , but some other place of that name more remote from the Philistines; and so they were Gittaimites by their present habitation, but Beerothites by their original, and place of their birth.

Haydock: 2Sa 4:1 - Isboseth // Weakened // Troubled

Isboseth is omitted in Hebrew but understood. He is expressed in the Septuagint. The Alexandrian copy generally substitutes Memphibosthai, by mistake; as he (Miphiboseth) was the son of Jonathan, ver. 4. (Haydock) ---

Weakened. Hitherto Abner had been the chief support of Saul's family. His traitorous practices had been kept secret from Isboseth, (Calmet) who hoped that his former declaration had been dictated by a sudden passion, and would not be carried into effect, chap. iii. 10. (Haydock) ---

Troubled, not knowing what turn things would now take, and fearing the resentment of the sons of Sarvia, though they were convinced of David's good dispositions. (Salien, the year before Christ 1067.)

Haydock: 2Sa 4:2 - Bands // Impavidus frangit telum // Beroth

Bands, ( Latronum. ) Literally, "robbers," or people who live on plunder, like the posterity of Ismael, and of Esau, Genesis xxvii. 40. The life-guards of princes are often styled latrones, (Calmet) from their being stationed at their "sides," as if Laterones. (Menochius) ----- Fixumque latronis,

Impavidus frangit telum. (Virgil, Æneid xii. 7.)

See Servius. (Judges xi. 3.) ---

Beroth was one of the towns of the Gabaonites. It is not certain that the inhabitants retired, in consequence of the persecution of Saul; but they went to the territory of Geth, or to another town of Benjamin, 2 Esdras xi. 33. (Calmet)

Haydock: 2Sa 4:3 - That

That. Hebrew, &c., "this day," when the historian wrote. (Menochius)

Gill: 2Sa 4:1 - And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron // his hands were feeble // and all the Israelites were troubled

And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron,.... By Saul's son is meant Ishbosheth, to whom tidings were soon brought of the death of Abner his general, and that he died in Hebron, where David his rival reigned, and was there murdered by Joab the general of his army:

his hands were feeble: not only in a natural sense, being quite dispirited at hearing such news; but in a civil sense, having lost his main support and strength, he being president of his council, and commander of his forces, and in whom he placed all his confidence: and if he knew nothing of his being at Hebron, it must surprise him to hear of his dying there; from whence he might conclude, that since he was there without his knowledge, it could not be in his favour, some plot was forming, and schemes laying with his rival to dethrone him; or if he knew of it, and understood it in this light, that he was endeavouring to make peace between him and David, and upon advantageous terms to him, of which now he might entertain no hopes; he was dispirited, and might conclude that Joab was against any terms at peace, and therefore had dispatched him:

and all the Israelites were troubled; at the loss of so great a man in their kingdom, and of whose designs to unite them to Judah, and put them under the government David, they were not ignorant; but now were in the utmost confusion, not knowing what step to take, and whom to send to carry on the treaty, in which Abner was concerned; and whether it would be safe for any to go upon it, since he who had the management of it was murdered, and no justice done on the murderer, and therefore might question David's sincerity and uprightness in this affair; these things greatly distressed and embarrassed them for the present, but Providence opened a way for their future establishment and prosperity.

Gill: 2Sa 4:2 - And 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

And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands,.... Of troops in the army, or of guards about the person of Ishbosheth son of Saul:

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; so that these men were brethren in nature, as well as in iniquity; they had the same father, who is described by his name and city, and their names are expressly mentioned and recorded to their infamy; and they were not only the servants of Ishbosheth, who had commissions under him, but were of the same tribe with him; all which is observed as an aggravation of their crime:

for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin; the place from whom Rimmon their father is denominated, and where he dwelt, as well as Gittaim, where they had sojourned, as in 2Sa 4:3. This place, Beeroth, originally belonged to the Gibeonites, and fell to the lot of Benjamin at the division of the land, see Jos 9:17.

Gill: 2Sa 4:3 - And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until that day.

And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until that day. At the death of Saul, when many of the Israelites deserted their cities, and left them to the Philistines, 1Sa 31:7; and so the inhabitants of Beeroth forsook their city, which was near the Philistines, and went to Gittaim, a city in the same tribe, though a little further off, see Neh 11:33.