Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 4:2
And Saul’s son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
2. captains of bands ] Leaders of predatory troops. See note on ch. 2Sa 3:22.
of the children of Benjamin ] The historian calls special attention to the fact that Ish-bosheth’s murderers belonged to his own tribe.
for Beeroth also, &c.] The object of this parenthesis is to explain how these Beerothites came to be Benjamites. Beeroth was one of the four Gibeonite cities, retained by their original Canaanite inhabitants in virtue of the treaty made with Joshua (Jos 9:17). It was however reckoned to belong to the tribe of Benjamin (Jos 18:25), and had been occupied by Benjamites when its original inhabitants deserted it. When and why they did so is unknown, but it has been plausibly conjectured that they fled from Saul’s massacre of the Gibeonites (2Sa 21:1-2).
The site of Beeroth (= wells) is probably marked by the modern village of El-Bireh (= the well), about 9 miles N. of Jerusalem. “It is remarkable as the first halting-place of caravans on the northern road from Jerusalem, and therefore not improbably the scene of the event to which its monastic tradition lays claim the place where the parents of Jesus sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance, and when they found him not, turned back again to Jerusalem.” Stanley, Sinai and Pal. p. 213.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Beeroth – See the marginal reference. From Jos 9:17, it might have been expected that the population of Beeroth would be Canaanite. But from some unknown cause the Canaanite inhabitants of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim – perhaps the same as Gath – and continued there as sojourners. If this flight of the Beerothites took place at the time of Sauls cruel attack upon the Gibeonites 2Sa 21:1-2, Baanah and Reehab may have been native Beerothites, and have been instigated to murder the son of Saul by a desire to avenge the blood of their countrymen. The fact of their being reckoned as Benjamites is quite compatible with their being Canaanites by blood.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Captains of bands] Principes latronum, captains of banditti, says the Vulgate; the Syriac is the same. Whether Ish-bosheth kept bands of marauders, whose business it was to make sudden incursions into the country places, and carry off grain, provisions, cattle, c., we know not but such persons would be well qualified for the bloody work in which these two men were afterwards employed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of the children of Benjamin; of Ish-bosheths own tribe, whom therefore he trusted the more; and this gave them opportunity to execute their wicked design.
Beeroth also, was reckoned to Benjamin: this is added as the reason why he called them Beerothites, because though Beeroth was now in the hands and possession of the Philistines, 1Sa 31:7, yet of right it belonged to the Benjamites, Jos 18:25.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Saul’s son had two men [that were] captains of bands,…. Of troops in the army, or of guards about the person of Ishbosheth son of Saul:
the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; so that these men were brethren in nature, as well as in iniquity; they had the same father, who is described by his name and city, and their names are expressly mentioned and recorded to their infamy; and they were not only the servants of Ishbosheth, who had commissions under him, but were of the same tribe with him; all which is observed as an aggravation of their crime:
for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin; the place from whom Rimmon their father is denominated, and where he dwelt, as well as Gittaim, where they had sojourned, as in 2Sa 4:3. This place, Beeroth, originally belonged to the Gibeonites, and fell to the lot of Benjamin at the division of the land, see Jos 9:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) A Beerothite.Beeroth was one of the four cities of the Gibeonites (Jos. 9:17), and was allotted with the others to the tribe of Benjamin (Jos. 18:25). It is identified with the modern El-Bireh, nine miles north of Jerusalem. It is mentioned here, in the past tense, that Beeroth was reckoned to Benjamin, because in the time of the writer it was no longer inhabited. The fact that the murderers of Ish-bosheth were of his own tribe is made prominent.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Captains of bands Leaders of military companies. Compare Act 10:1.
Of Benjamin The unhappy king falls by the hands of men of his own tribe.
Beeroth The modern Bireh, eight miles north of Jerusalem. See on Jos 9:17; Jos 18:25.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 4:2-3. (For Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin Beeroth was a city formerly belonging to the Gibeonites, within the lot of Benjamin, but most certainly not inhabited by them, when the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, after the defeat of Gilboa; for Gittaim was a Benjamite city, and had those Beerothites been Gibeonites, they would have fled to any region of the earth, rather than to the protection of the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe of Saul, the mortal enemy to their race. What then are we to infer from the flight of the Beerothites to a Benjamite city at that time, but that they themselves were Benjamites? And how could this city be then inhabited by Benjamites, otherwise than by the expulsion and eradication of the Gibeonites, when Saul destroyed them? And what reason was there for Saul’s destroying them, but to give their possessions to his friends, the Benjamites? And certainly there can be no doubt upon the point, when we find them in fact possessed of that city. Here then the divine justice is very remarkable. Saul cut off the Gibeonites, to make way for his Benjamites; and two of these very Benjamites, the sons of a Benjamite of Beeroth, cut off his posterity, the chief stay and hope of his house; and did this against all the dictates of duty, gratitude, and natural affection. How adorable and how dreadful are the divine retributions of vengeance!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(2) And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: (3) And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) (4) And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. (5) And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. (6) And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. (7) For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
But, whatever the real character of Ish-bosheth might be, the conduct of those brothers we cannot be at a loss to gather. Wherefore the account of the city to which they belonged is inserted here, by way of a parenthesis, is not certain, unless it be to mark their atrocity still more in that being Benjamites, they ought to have had more love to the house of Saul, who was of that tribe. The account of Mephibosheth, which is given here, though short, is interesting. The lameness, induced by the event of the battle on the day of Saul’s death, and Jonathan being the father of Mephibosheth, may serve to show how the sin of the parent involves the children in the consequent punishment. Alas! how evident is it, that the whole nature is fallen, when the whole nature groans from being universally implicated in the fall.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 4:2 And Saul’s son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
Ver. 2. And Saul’s son,] i.e., Jonathan; as the Rabbis and some others, who make these two to have been captains under him; and further say, that after Jonathan’s death, they stood for Mephibosheth, their master’s son, whom they would have made king, and have slain Ishbosheth. But Mephibosheth revealed all to Ishbosheth, whereupon these traitors fled, and afterwards hearing ef Abner’s death, returned secretly and slew Ishbosheth. Thus R. Solomon, Rabanus, Cajetan, &c. But who told them all this? and what footing have they for it in Scripture? By Saul’s son here, we may better understand Ishbosheth, as 2Sa 3:14 ; 2Sa 3:1 .
Captains of bands.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew. ‘enosh. App-14.
Beerothite. Near Gibeon (Jos 18:25), now El Bireh, 6 miles north of Jerusalem, one of the Hivite towns possessed by Benjamin.
children = sons.
for. Note Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
captains: 2Sa 3:22, 2Ki 5:2, 2Ki 6:23
other: Heb. second
Beeroth: Jos 9:17, Jos 18:25
Reciprocal: Dan 11:26 – that feed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 4:2. Captains of bands Whether of regular forces, or some flying parties, whose business was spoil and prey, is not certain. Perhaps they were captains of two companies of guards about the king.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:2 And Saul’s son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for {c} Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
(c) This city Beeroth was in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25.