Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 4:8
And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
8 12. The Punishment of the Murderers by David
8. to the king ] Observe that Ish-bosheth is never honoured with the title of king.
thine enemy, which sought thy life ] These words are to be referred to Saul not to Ish-bosheth. Cp. 1Sa 24:4; 1Sa 25:29.
the Lord hath avenged ] The murderers profanely represented themselves as the instruments of Providence. “They pretended piety and loyalty, but they regarded nothing except their own interest.” Wordsworth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. They brought the head – unto David] They thought, as did the poor lying Amalekite, to ingratiate themselves with David by this abominable act.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which sought thy life, i.e. to destroy it, or take it away; as this phrase is used, 1Sa 20:1; 23:15, and elsewhere. They thought their action not only blameless, but meritorious; because they had but executed justice upon Sauls house, and Davids enemies, and made way for Davids obtaining of his rights. It may seem strange they were not discouraged by Davids punishing of the Amalekite for killing Saul, 2Sa 1, and by his sharp reproof of Joab for murdering Abner; but they thought the first case much differing from theirs, because Saul was anointed king by God; whereas Ish-bosheth was not, but was a mere usurper: and for the latter, they thought that Davids sharp words proceeded rather from art and policy, than from any real dislike of thee thing; which they judged, because David contented himself with words, and Joab did not only go unpunished, but continued in his former place and power.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. They brought the head ofIsh-bosheth unto David . . . and said, Behold the head ofIsh-boshethSuch bloody trophies of rebels and conspiratorshave always been acceptable to princes in the East, and the carriershave been liberally rewarded. Ish-bosheth being a usurper, the twoassassins thought they were doing a meritorious service to David byremoving the only existing obstacle to the union of the two kingdoms.
2Sa4:10-12. DAVID CAUSESTHEM TO BEPUT TO DEATH.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron,…. Supposing it would have been a very acceptable present to him:
and said to the king, behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; all which, his relation to Saul, his enmity to David, and his designs upon his life, are artfully put together to raise the indignation of David against him, and make their present of his head to him the more agreeable:
and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed; for all the evils and injuries they had done him; this being the last of the sons of Saul by a lawful wife, the two remaining were by a concubine; and these men impiously ascribe to the Lord what they with wicked hands had done.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) The Lord hath avenged.It is not to be supposed that the murderers pretended a Divine commission for their wicked deed; they only meant to say that, in the providence of God, David was thus avenged on the seed of his cruel persecutor. Yet they state the fact in the way they thought best calculated to awaken the gratitude of David towards themselves.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. The Lord hath avenged my lord the king By these words the assassins thought to gain the favour of David; but, like the Amalekite at Ziklag, they little understood how his soul abhorred their bloody deed.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(8) And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. (9) And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, (10) When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: (11) How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
Observe; with what faith and assurance David speaks of redemption. Not as a thing to be done; but as a work already accomplished. Sweet thought this! So concluded holy men of old. “Blessed, (said Zacharias) he the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited, and redeemed his people. Let thy servant, (said Simeon) depart in peace according to thy word! for mine eyes have seen thy salvation”. Luk_1:68; Luk_2:29-30 . The just detestation of David at this horridly cruel and unprovoked deed of Rechab and Baanah, could not have been expressed in a stronger manner.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
Ver. 8. Behold the head of Ishbosheth. ] A plausible oration they make, but miss of their purpose. They commend their own act to David: (1.) A iucundo, from delight, Lo, here the head of thine enemy; and what more pleasant sight than this? (2.) Ab honesto, from honesty, We did it not without the Lord, who hath set us on work to avenge my lord the king, &c. (3.) Ab utili, from usefulness, For now thine enemy being removed, thou shalt reign alone without a rival. Thus these wretches rhetoricate, and all to insinuate; which yet would not be.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
sought: 1Sa 18:11, 1Sa 19:2-11, 1Sa 19:15, 1Sa 20:1, 1Sa 23:15, 1Sa 25:29, Psa 63:9, Psa 63:10, Psa 71:24, Mat 2:20
the Lord: 2Sa 18:19, 2Sa 18:31, 2Sa 22:48, Luk 18:7, Luk 18:8, Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:16 – Let the Lord 1Sa 24:4 – the men 2Sa 16:8 – the blood