2 Samuel 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When Saul's son heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his heart failed him, and al Israel was alarmed.	1 When Ishbaal, son of Saul, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he ceased to resist and all Israel was alarmed.
2 Now, Saul's son had two freebooting chieftains; one was cal ed Baanah, the other Rechab. They werethe sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, and Benjaminites -- for Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin.	2 Ishbaal, son of Saul, had two company leaders named Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Beeroth, too, was ascribed to Benjamin:
3 The people of Beeroth had taken refuge in Gittaim, where they have remained to this day as residentforeigners.	3 the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, where they have been resident aliens to this day.
4 Jonathan son of Saul had a son with crippled feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul andJonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled but, as she hurried away, he fel and was lamed.His name was Meribbaal.	4 Jonathan, son of Saul, had a son named Meribbaal with crippled feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. But in their hasty flight, he fell and became lame.)
5 The sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, Rechab and Baanah, set out; they came to Ishbaal's house at thehottest part of the day when he was taking his midday rest.	5 The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, came into the house of Ishbaal during the heat of the day, while he was taking his siesta.
6 The woman who kept the door had been cleaning wheat and had drowsed off to sleep.	6 The portress of the house had dozed off while sifting wheat, and was asleep. So Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped past
7 Rechab and his brother Baanah stole past her and entered the house, where he was lying on his bed inhis bedroom. They struck him and kil ed him, then cut off his head and, taking the head with them, travel ed alnight by way of the Arabah.	7 and entered the house while Ishbaal was lying asleep in his bedroom. They struck and killed him, and cut off his head. Then, taking the head, they traveled on the Arabah road all night long.
8 They brought Ishbaal's head to David at Hebron. 'Here', they said to the king, 'is the head of Ishbaalson of Saul, your enemy, who meant to take your life. Yahweh has avenged my lord the king today on Saul andon his offspring.'	8 They brought the head of Ishbaal to David in Hebron and said to the king: "This is the head of Ishbaal, son of your enemy Saul, who sought your life. Thus has the LORD this day avenged my lord the king on Saul and his posterity."
9 But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon, by saying, 'As Yahwehlives, who has rescued me from every danger,	9 But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite: "As the LORD lives, who rescued me from all difficulty,
10 when someone told me, "Saul is dead!" supposing himself to be bringing me good news, I seized andput him to death at Ziklag, and that was how I rewarded him for his news!	10 in Ziklag I seized and put to death the man who informed me of Saul's death, thinking himself the bearer of good news for which I ought to give him a reward.
11 How much more when bandits have kil ed an upright man in his house, and on his bed! Am I not todemand an account of his blood from you, and rid the earth of you?'	11 How much more now, when wicked men have slain an innocent man in bed at home, must I hold you responsible for his death and destroy you from the earth!"
12 David then gave an order to the men, who put them to death, cut off their hands and feet, and hungthem up beside the pool of Hebron. Ishbaal's head they took and buried in Abner's grave at Hebron.	12 So at a command from David, the young men killed them and cut off their hands and feet, hanging them up near the pool in Hebron. But he took the head of Ishbaal and buried it in Abner's grave in Hebron.