What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 4:5? Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite • These brothers are first introduced in 2 Samuel 4:2 as “captains of raiding parties” under Ish-bosheth, Saul’s surviving son. • Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:21, 25), the same tribe as Saul, showing how betrayal can arise from one’s own ranks (cf. Psalm 55:12-14). • Their father’s name, Rimmon, and their city’s flight to Gittaim (2 Samuel 4:3) hint that these men felt displaced and may have sought favor with David, whose rise was evident after Abner’s death (2 Samuel 3:37-38). • Like Doeg the Edomite who turned on the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 22:18-19), Rechab and Baanah embody the tragic pattern of ambitious insiders turning against God-appointed authority. set out • The says simply that they “set out,” but the context indicates deliberate planning rather than a casual visit. • Their journey echoes other premeditated betrayals: the Amalekite who fled to David after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 1:6-10) and Zimri who conspired against King Elah (1 Kings 16:9-10). • Scripture warns that the heart plotting evil is abominable to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-18). • Any believer’s “setting out” should align with God’s purposes (Proverbs 3:5-6). When it does not, it leads to ruin, as these brothers will soon discover (2 Samuel 4:11-12). arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth • Crossing the threshold of their own king’s house with murderous intent shows contempt for God’s established order (Romans 13:1). • Similar acts of treachery took place when Ehud entered King Eglon’s private chamber (Judges 3:20-21) and when Joab later lured Abner inside the gate of Hebron (2 Samuel 3:27). • Ish-bosheth’s house should have been a place of safety, yet it became the stage for betrayal—an illustration of Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things.” • Believers are called to honor the places and people God sets over us (1 Peter 2:17). in the heat of the day • Midday in the ancient Near East was a customary time to rest from labor (Genesis 18:1; 1 Kings 19:4-6). • Choosing this hour ensured fewer witnesses and lowered defenses—paralleling how Satan prowls when vigilance drops (1 Peter 5:8). • David refused to strike Saul even when the king was vulnerable in a cave (1 Samuel 24:3-7), contrasting sharply with Rechab and Baanah’s exploit. • The passage reminds us to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8-11) rather than use the hour of rest for hidden sin. while the king was taking his midday nap • The records that “the king was taking his midday nap,” underscoring Ish-bosheth’s trust in his own officers. • Sleep scenes in Scripture often reveal a test of character: Saul asleep before David (1 Samuel 26:7-11), Sisera slain by Jael (Judges 4:21), and Samson’s haircut in Delilah’s lap (Judges 16:19). • Instead of guarding their king, the brothers exploited his repose—opposite of David’s men who refused to strike the sleeping Saul because he was “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:9). • The verse challenges us: Will we protect the vulnerable or take advantage of them? Proverbs 3:29 teaches, “Do not plot harm against your neighbor who lives trustfully beside you.” summary 2 Samuel 4:5 presents a calculated betrayal: two Benjamite brothers, trusted officers, depart with murderous intent, enter the king’s house during the midday lull, and find Ish-bosheth asleep. Every phrase heightens the treachery—familiar men, a vulnerable king, and a chosen moment of rest. The verse exposes ambition unchecked by reverence for God’s anointed and warns believers to guard their hearts, honor God-given authority, and remain watchful, lest opportunistic sin overtake us. |
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