2 Samuel 4

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 When Saul's son heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his heart failed him, and al Israel was alarmed.	1 Then Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, heard that Abner had fallen in Hebron. And his hands were weakened, and all of Israel was troubled.
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 Now the son of Saul had two men, leaders among robbers. The name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab, sons of Rimmon, a Beerothite from the sons of Benjamin. For indeed, Beeroth, too, was reputed with Benjamin.
3 The people of Beeroth had taken refuge in Gittaim, where they have remained to this day as residentforeigners.	3 And the Beerothites had fled into Gittaim. And they were strangers there, until that time.
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 Now Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son with disabled feet. For he was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. And so, his nurse, taking him up, fled. And while she was hurrying, so that she might flee, he fell and was made lame. And he was called Mephibosheth.
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 And so, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, arrived and entered the house of Ishbosheth, in the heat of the day. And he was sleeping on his bed at midday. And the doorkeeper of the house, who was cleaning the wheat, fell fast asleep.
6 The woman who kept the door had been cleaning wheat and had drowsed off to sleep.	6 Then they entered the house secretly, taking the ears of grain. And Rechab and his brother Baanah stabbed him in the groin, and they fled away.
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 For when they had entered the house, he was sleeping on his bed in a closed room. And striking him, they killed him. And taking his head, they departed by the way of the desert, walking throughout the night.
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 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David in Hebron. And they said to the king: “Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who was seeking your life. And so, the Lord has avenged my lord the king, this day, from Saul and from his offspring.”
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, responding to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, said to them: “As the Lord lives who has rescued my soul from all distress,
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 the one who reported to me and said, ‘Saul is dead,’ who was thinking that he announced good news, I apprehended. And at Ziklag I killed him who ought to have been given a reward for the news.
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 so now, when impious men have put to death an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand, and take you away 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 And so, David commanded his servants, and they put them to death. And cutting off their hands and feet, they suspended them up over the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ishbosheth they took and buried in the sepulcher of Abner at Hebron.