1
And when the son of Shaul heard that Avner had died in Chevron, his hands became weak, and all Yisra’el was troubled.
2
And the son of Shaul had two men, commanders of raiding bands. The name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the second Rekhav, sons of Rimmon the Be’eroti, from the sons of Binyamin; for Be’erot also was counted to Binyamin.
3
And the Be’erotim fled to Gittayim and have sojourned there until this day.
4
And Yonatan son of Shaul had a son crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the report concerning Shaul and Yonatan came from Yizre’el. And his nurse carried him and fled, and it came to pass, as she hurried to flee, that he fell and became lame. And his name was Mefivoshet.
5
And the sons of Rimmon the Be’eroti, Rekhav and Baanah, went and came at the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Boshet, while he was lying down for the rest of midday.
6
And they came there into the midst of the house as though to take wheat, and they struck him in the belly. And Rekhav and Baanah his brother escaped.
7
And they came into the house while he was lying upon his bed in his bedchamber, and they struck him and put him to death, and removed his head. And they took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all the night.
8
And they brought the head of Ish-Boshet to Daviyd at Chevron and said to the king, “See, the head of Ish-Boshet son of Shaul your enemy, who sought your being. And Yahuah has given vengeance to my master the king this day from Shaul and from his seed.”
9
And Daviyd answered Rekhav and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Be’eroti, and said to them, “As Yahuah lives, who has redeemed my being from every distress,
10
when one declared to me, saying, ‘See, Shaul is dead,’ and he was in his own eyes as one bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Tziqlag, when he thought I would give him a reward for his report.
11
How much more when wicked men have put to death a righteous ish in his own house, upon his bed? And now, shall I not seek his blood from your hand and remove you from the earth?”
12
And Daviyd commanded the young men, and they put them to death and cut off their hands and their feet and hung them beside the pool in Chevron. But they took the head of Ish-Boshet and buried it in the tomb of Avner in Chevron.