1
When [Ish-Boshet], Sha'ul's son, heard that Aviner was dead in Hevron, his hands became feeble, and all the Yisra'elites were troubled.
2
[Ish-Boshet], Sha'ul's son, [had] two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was Ba`anah, and the name of the other Rechav, the sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, of the children of Binyamin (for Be'erot also is reckoned to Binyamin:
3
and the Be'erotites fled to Gittayim, and have been sojourners there until this day).
4
Now Yonatan, Sha'ul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Sha'ul and Yonatan out of Yizre`el; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. His name was Mefivoshet.
5
The sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, Rechav and Ba`anah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Boshet, as he took his rest at noon.
6
They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechav and Ba`anah his brother escaped.
7
Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the `Aravah all night.
8
They brought the head of Ish-Boshet to David to Hevron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-Boshet, the son of Sha'ul, your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Sha'ul, and of his seed.
9
David answered Rechav and Ba`anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, and said to them, As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10
when one told me, saying, Behold, Sha'ul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Tziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
11
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the eretz?