2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 4

The Murder of Ishbushath 

1 When Ishbushath, Shaul’s son, heard about Abnar’s death at Habrun, he lost all courage, and all Yashar'AL became paralyzed with fear. 

2 Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Racab, who were captains of Ishbushath’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmun, a member of the tribe of Banyamin who lived in Baaruth. The town of Baaruth is now part of Banyamin’s territory 

3 because the original people of Baaruth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.

4 (Shaul’s son Yunathan had a son named Maphibushath, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Yazraal that Shaul and Yunathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)

5 One day Racab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmun from Baaruth, went to Ishbushath’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest. 

6 The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Racab and Baanah slipped past her. 

7 They went into the house and found Ishbushath sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Yurdan Valley through the night. 

8 When they arrived at Habrun, they presented Ishbushath’s head to Daud. Look!” they exclaimed to the king. “Here is the head of Ishbushath, the son of your enemy Shaul who tried to kill you. Today 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has given my master the king revenge on Shaul and his entire family!”

9 But Daud said to Racab and Baanah, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. 

10 Someone once told me, ‘Shaul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! 

11 How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Should I not hold you responsible for his blood and rid the Arath of you?”

12 So Daud ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Habrun. Then they took Ishbushath’s head and buried it in Abnar’s tomb in Habrun.