Two captains of bands smite Ish-bosheth upon his bed and carry his head to Hebron expecting reward; David, as with the Amalekite before them, requites the blood of a righteous man in his own house.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted.
verse value 2828
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·Israel" (וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, his·hands. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·sank" (וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ), "they·were·disturbed" (נִבְהָֽלוּ). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel); "son·of·Saul" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel); "and·all·Israel" (root כל, 95x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root רפה ("and·they·sank") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·hands', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע [and·he·heard] (426) + בֶּן־שָׁא֗וּל [son·of·Saul] (389) + כִּ֣י [for] (30) + מֵ֤ת [died] (440) + אַבְנֵר֙ [Abner] (253) + בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן [in·Hebron] (268) + וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ [and·they·sank] (302) + יָדָ֑יו [his·hands] (30) + וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [and·all·Israel] (597) + נִבְהָֽלוּ [they·were·disturbed] (93) = 2828.
Metzudat David
“Son of Saul.” For when Abner died, there remained no one to strengthen him in his kingship, and there remained in him no royal authority except by virtue of being the son of King Saul; therefore, he was not mentioned by his name.
They were alarmed. Because they knew that Abner's heart had been whole with David, and they feared that despite this he had been killed at his [David's] instigation, and they were afraid for their lives that he might take vengeance upon them all. And on account of this they did not anoint him king until Ish-bosheth was killed and David executed judgment on the murderers. And by this they knew retroactively that David was innocent of Abner's blood, and then they all came to anoint him king.
Metzudat Zion
They relaxed. From the word relaxation, and it is a matter of despair.
Malbim
And he heard: [The text] relates the impact that was made by the death of Abner, that no man remained to take hold in the kingdom of Saul, for even Saul's own son's hands grew weak; likewise, the multitude in general were terrified; and likewise, no man remained to stand in Abner's place to muster the people, for,
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 the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin;
verse value 6046
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "the·one" (הָאֶחָ֨ד) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "name·of" (שֵׁם֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "princes·of·a band" (שָׂרֵֽי־גְדוּדִ֣ים, 9 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·two·of" (וּשְׁנֵ֣י), "princes·of·a band" (שָׂרֵֽי־גְדוּדִ֣ים), "Baanah" (בַּעֲנָ֜ה). The root שם appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "were" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "upon·Benjamin" (root על, 121x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בענה ("Baanah") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root רמון ("Rimmon") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Benjamin', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 4 words.
Rashi
"To the son of Sha'ul." [Meaning:] belonging to the son of Sha'ul—like (I Samuel 13:8): "to the time that Shmuel [set]," [meaning] belonging to Shmuel.
Radak
They were the son of Saul. Like "to the son of Saul" or "with the son of Saul," as in the Targum; or [as in] "princes," a masculine [singular] form standing in place of two, as if it said "the two princes of the son of Saul." And Menachem interpreted "were" like "broke," and similarly "I was ruined" and "I was made ill" — meaning, they killed him. And [Scripture] relates this matter here to inform us that those who killed the son of Saul had already been with him and were his commanders; therefore the members of the household did not guard themselves against them when they came into the house and into his bedchamber, and they thought that they had entered only to speak with him. And as for what is said, "and the Beerothites fled," it does not relate why they fled — perhaps they had words of strife with Saul or with his son, and now they returned to him, perhaps having made peace with him before their arrival, and they came as far as his house, and [the household] did not guard themselves against them. And the explanation of "the buyers of grain" according to this interpretation is that they came with the buyers of grain to speak with the son of Saul. And according to the interpretation that Menachem gave, that they killed him, the explanation of the matter is thus: these commanders killed the son of Saul, and this is not said about Ish-bosheth, but about another son that Saul had, and they killed him, either during Saul's lifetime or after his death. Therefore they fled to Gittaim and were sojourners there until this day — [the same people] who came to kill Ish-bosheth to find favor in the eyes of David and to return to their inheritance in Beeroth. And when they came to the house of Ish-bosheth, they disguised themselves and made themselves appear as buyers of grain — and in a manuscript: as sellers of grain — and they entered his house, into the chamber of his bed, and killed him. And the members of the household did not guard themselves against them, for they said that they would speak with him to buy grain from him.
“For also Beeroth shall be reckoned to Benjamin.” Just as it says “to Benjamin,” so too “and she prayed to the Lord”—just as it says “to the Lord”; “upon Shaphan the scribe”—just as it says “to.” And regarding what it states, “For also Beeroth,” and behold, Beeroth is counted among the cities of Benjamin, if so, what is the meaning of “also”? Perhaps it was on the border, and people thought that it did not belong to Benjamin. He informs us that even it shall be reckoned to Benjamin. All of this is to inform us that he was from the tribe of Benjamin, from the tribe of Saul, from whom [came those who] destroyed his household and his kingdom. And what it also relates, behold, the matter of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, is to inform us that upon the death of Ish-bosheth, there remained no heir to the throne for the house of Saul who was worthy of kingship, for Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, fell and became lame in his feet, and to Saul there remained only the sons of Rizpah the concubine.
Metzudat David
Captains of troops. These were officers over the men of war, [belonging] to the son of Saul:
"For Beeroth too, etc." Perhaps it [Beeroth] stood outside their borders, and it was not known to all that it was from Benjamin.
Metzudat Zion
Saul's son. Like 'to Saul's son', and the lamed is lacking.
Malbim
Two men who were captains of troops belonged (originally) to the son of Saul, and they were from the sons of Benjamin, which is Saul's tribe; yet even on them he could not rely at that time, for,
and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day.
verse value 2130
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֖ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "Beerothite" (הַבְּאֵרֹתִ֖ים, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·they·fled" (וַיִּבְרְח֥וּ), "Beerothite" (הַבְּאֵרֹתִ֖ים), "Gittaim" (גִּתָּ֑יְמָה). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·were·there" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "day" (root יום, 78x in II Samuel); "this" (root זה, 42x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root ברח ("and·they·fled") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gittaim', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּבְרְח֥וּ [and·they·fled] (232) + הַבְּאֵרֹתִ֖ים [Beerothite] (658) + גִּתָּ֑יְמָה [Gittaim] (458) + וַיִּהְיוּ־שָׁ֣ם [and·they·were·there] (377) + גָּרִ֔ים [sojourner] (253) + עַ֖ד [until] (74) + הַיּ֥וֹם [day] (61) + הַזֶּֽה [this] (17) = 2130.
Rashi
And the Beerothites fled. When Sha'ul died, and the sons of Israel abandoned the cities around the Philistines, as stated above, then the Beerothites fled.
Metzudat David
"And they fled." They had fled long before, and it was not mentioned why.
"Until this day." [This refers to the fact that] they killed Ish-bosheth; for then they too were put to death by David, as it is written in that matter:
Malbim
And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim; because of a deed (that will be recounted in verse 6), they had fled from the Land of Israel, and there they remained until this day (when they killed Ish-bosheth). And likewise no man remained of the sons of Saul and his offspring who might hold the scepter and maintain the kingdom, for:
Now 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.
verse value 7697
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 108 letters. The shortest word is "son·of" (בֵּ֖ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Jonathan" (וְלִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 400: son·of·five, years. 11 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·to·Jonathan" (וְלִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙), "son·of·five" (בֶּן־חָמֵ֣שׁ), "when·comes" (בְּבֹ֣א). The root יהונתן appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "when·comes" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "son·of·Saul" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אמן ("firmness") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root נוס ("and·fled") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'foot', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 18 words.
Rashi
And to Yonatan the son of Sha'ul. He recounts, one by one, how the kingship ceased from the house of Sha'ul: he and his sons were killed, and this one who remained was killed on his bed, and Yonatan's son fell and became lame.
Lame. Broken-legged.
Metzudat David
From Jezreel. Those who were slain in that war:
"And she fled." Out of fear of the Philistines, lest they come to the king's house to plunder the spoils.
"And he fell." That son fell from her [the nurse's] hand, and then became lame (and they wrote it here to indicate that the intent of the Beerothites was, in the killing of Ish-bosheth, to make David king, since there remained no one from Saul's seed to make king after him, for they considered Mephibosheth unfit for kingship, because he was lame in his feet):
Metzudat Zion
Stricken in the feet. Broken in the feet, as (II Kings 23:29): "Pharaoh Necho" [i.e., Pharaoh the lame].
His nurse. The one who raised him, as (Esther 2:7): and he brought up Hadassah.
And she fled. And she fled.
In her haste. A matter of swiftness, as (I Samuel 23:26): "and David was in haste to go."
And he limped. He became lame.
Malbim
"To Jonathan son of Saul [there was] a son lame of feet, etc.": this refers to the one [son] who alone remained, and he was lame, until he was no longer able to serve as a stronghold and refuge for the kingdom of Saul. And now that the house of Saul was in this state of weakness, there remained absolutely none [i.e., no male descendant whatsoever, whether "restrained or free"]:
Cross-references: II Samuel 2:8; I Chronicles 8:34; I Chronicles 9:40
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon.
verse value 4466
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "and·he" (וְה֣וּא) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "Rechab" (רֵכָ֣ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Rimmon" (בְּנֵֽי־רִמּ֤וֹן, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "sons·of·Rimmon" (בְּנֵֽי־רִמּ֤וֹן), "in·the·heat·of" (כְּחֹ֣ם), "to·house·of" (אֶל־בֵּ֖ית). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·house·of" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שכב ("lying·down") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root משכב ("bed·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Bosheth', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 5 words.
Radak
"Ke-chom hayom" [as the heat of the day]. With a kaf.
“the couch of midday.” The Targum: “the sleep of kings,” meaning that it is the custom of kings to sleep at midday.
Ralbag
And behold after this, two commanders of bands belonging to the son of Saul [Ish-bosheth] conspired against Ish-bosheth and killed him in his house on his couch while he was lying on his noonday rest, and they entered with men, wheat-gatherers, who came into the house. And they brought his head to David to find favor in his eyes, and he avenged the vengeance of Ish-bosheth upon them and commanded to kill them and cut off their hands and feet and hang them by the pool at Hebron, and he buried the head of Ish-bosheth in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
Metzudat David
And they went. They returned from Gath, and disguised themselves and went to the house of Ish-bosheth:
Metzudat Zion
At the heat of the day. When the sun grew warm, and it is at midday.
The noontide. The time of the strengthening of the day's light, and it is from (Genesis 6:16): a window you shall make for the ark.
Malbim
"And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite went, and came at the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth." They took no precautions at all, and did not go by night but only in broad daylight, knowing the time when he would be lying down for his midday rest, for they had formerly been members of his household.
And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the groin; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
verse value 2159
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "they·went·in" (בָּ֜אוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·groin" (אֶל־הַחֹ֑מֶשׁ, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "until·midst" (עַד־תּ֤וֹךְ), "who·had·married" (לֹקְחֵ֣י), "wheat" (חִטִּ֔ים). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·groin" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "they·went·in" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "the·house" (root בית, 97x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·groin', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְ֠הֵנָּ֠ה [and·behold] (66) + בָּ֜אוּ [they·went·in] (9) + עַד־תּ֤וֹךְ [until·midst] (500) + הַבַּ֙יִת֙ [the·house] (417) + לֹקְחֵ֣י [who·had·married] (148) + חִטִּ֔ים [wheat] (67) + וַיַּכֻּ֖הוּ [and·they·struck·him] (47) + אֶל־הַחֹ֑מֶשׁ [to·the·groin] (384) + וְרֵכָ֛ב [and·Rechab] (228) + וּבַעֲנָ֥ה [and·Baana] (133) + אָחִ֖יו [his·brother] (25) + נִמְלָֽטוּ [they·slipped·away] (135) = 2159.
Rashi
And behold, they came into the house. With traders, wheat-buyers.
Metzudat David
And behold they came. He returns to tell how they came and did not perceive them, and said: they came into the house and acted as if fetching wheat from Ish-bosheth, and said that they struck him in the fifth rib opposite the liver and gall, and they escaped from there:
Metzudat Zion
And they. Like 'vehemah' (and they).
Malbim
And behold, this verse is a parenthetical statement, meaning that they had already committed such a murder, on account of which they then fled from the land to Gath. For even while they were still captains of bands, they came as far as the interior of the house of the wheat-takers (a house dedicated to wheat merchants) and struck him (the owner of the house) in the belly. And this was the cause for Rechab and Baanah fleeing to Gath (as mentioned in verse 3).
Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
verse value 5379
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 85 letters. The shortest word is "way" (דֶּ֥רֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·was·lying" (וְהֽוּא־שֹׁכֵ֤ב, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 908: head, head. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·was·lying" (וְהֽוּא־שֹׁכֵ֤ב), "upon·couch" (עַל־מִטָּתוֹ֙), "in·chamber·of" (בַּחֲדַ֣ר). The root ראש appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·came" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "the·house" (root בית, 97x in II Samuel); "and·they·went" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root חדר ("in·chamber·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'head', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Radak
"And they came into the house." It appears that after they had struck him and had gone out [departed], they returned to the house to remove his head, to bring it to David, for they had killed him, thinking to find favor in the eyes of David through this deed.
Metzudat David
And they came into the house. Now he returns to tell the manner of the blow, and said: at first they killed him, and after that they cut off his head:
Malbim
"And they came" — namely, these two murderers, who had already committed such a murder previously, are the very ones who also killed the king in this same manner: they entered the house while he was lying on his bed (just as they had calculated that he would be lying down at noon, so it was). They struck him and killed him. Now, all of this indicates that Ish-bosheth felt secure and did not fear that anyone would rise up against him; for if not, he would have stationed guards, and they would not have allowed these men to enter until they reached the chamber of his bed.
And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king: ‘Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and Hashem has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.’
verse value 8452
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 112 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Ish-bosheth" (אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֥שֶׁת, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 1013: Ish-bosheth, Ish-bosheth. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "behold·head·of" (הִנֵּה־רֹ֣אשׁ), "enemy" (אֹֽיִבְךָ֔), "sought" (בִּקֵּ֖שׁ). The root ראש appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·David" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'soul', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 9 words.
Metzudat David
And the Lord gave. Meaning: and behold the Lord gave etc.:
And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them: ‘As Hashem lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
verse value 4500
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 68 letters. Verse gematria: 4500 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֜ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Baana" (וְאֶת־בַּעֲנָ֣ה, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Rechab" (אֶת־רֵכָ֣ב), "and·Baana" (וְאֶת־בַּעֲנָ֣ה), "who·redeemed" (אֲשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ה). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "who·redeemed" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֨עַן [and·he·answered] (136) + דָּוִ֜ד [David] (14) + אֶת־רֵכָ֣ב [Rechab] (623) + וְאֶת־בַּעֲנָ֣ה [and·Baana] (534) + אָחִ֗יו [his·brother] (25) + בְּנֵ֛י [son] (62) + רִמּ֥וֹן [Rimmon] (296) + הַבְּאֵרֹתִ֖י [Beerothite] (618) + וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + לָהֶ֑ם [to·them] (75) + חַי־יְהֹוָ֕ה [as·Hashem·lives] (44) + אֲשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ה [who·redeemed] (590) + אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י [soul] (841) + מִכׇּל־צָרָֽה [from·all·adversity] (385) = 4500.
when one told me, saying: Behold, Saul is dead, and he was in his own eyes as though he brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, instead of giving a reward for his tidings.
verse value 4358
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 72 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·he·was" (וְהֽוּא־הָיָ֤ה, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "behold·he·is·dead" (הִנֵּה־מֵ֣ת), "and·he·was" (וְהֽוּא־הָיָ֤ה), "as·a·bearer·of·good·tidings" (כִמְבַשֵּׂר֙). The root בשר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בשר ("as·a·bearer·of·good·tidings") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root בו ("in·him") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Ziklag', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 3 words.
Rashi
To give him tidings. Which he imagined would delight me—in order that I might give him a reward for his tidings.
Radak
"And I killed him." He did not actually kill him; rather, since he commanded one of the youths to kill him, it is as if he himself had killed him. And regarding what he said, "and I held him," it is possible that David held him while the youth struck him.
"Whoever I shall give him good tidings." He thought that I would give him a reward of good tidings; and Targum Yonatan renders: "He assumed that he would be given a gift for his tidings."
Metzudat David
"For the one who told" refers back to the preceding verse, which states, "As the Lord lives," etc., indicating the truth of the matter: that the one who told me, saying, that Saul died by his hand.
As a bearer of good news, in his eyes. In his own eyes, he was like one bringing me good news.
"And I seized him." For what he commanded his servant to kill him, it is as if he himself had killed him.
"Which I would give." [Meaning] that he thought that I would give him a reward for the tidings.
Malbim
For [as regards] "the one who told me" (the magid), there is a distinction between a magid (a reporter) and a mevaser (a herald of good news). The magid reports a matter in which his companion has no benefit from knowing it, and sometimes it is a matter that he heard by chance from the words of others. The mevaser, however, intends to inform of a matter in which his companion has benefit, and it mostly comes as good tidings, and concerning a matter that he saw with his own eyes. Now, the death of Saul was for David merely a report (hagadah), for he did not think to derive any benefit from it, and all the more so was it not good tidings for him. But in his [the messenger's] own eyes, he was as one bringing him good tidings. And behold, it does not say that he said that he had killed him, for in truth he [David] did not believe him in this, for he thought that he said this in order that he might give him a reward for the tidings. And this is what is written:
"Instead of giving him a reward for the news" — and this he did not believe: that he had finished him off [i.e., actually killed him]; for even according to his own words, Saul was already a man condemned to death. Nevertheless, [David says,] I killed him, because he regarded himself in his own eyes as a bearer of good news, and rejoiced at his death.
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?’
verse value 6176
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 77 letters. The shortest word is "even" (אַ֞ף, 2 letters) and the longest is "man·just" (אֶת־אִישׁ־צַדִּ֛יק, 9 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "even" (אַ֞ף), "how·much·more·when·men" (כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֣ים), "wicked" (רְשָׁעִ֗ים). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "how·much·more·when·men" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "in·his·house" (root בית, 97x in II Samuel); "not" (root לא, 76x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אף ("even") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root בער ("and·I·will·put·away") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·his·bed', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
How much more. Meaning: and all the more shall I kill you, for you have done worse than him, for he who killed Saul, behold in war he killed him at his request, and knew that he would not live any longer after he was already wounded by the sword, and even the horsemen had overtaken him as written above (1:9-10). But you, did you not kill him in his house on his bed, and all the more shall I require his blood etc.:
Metzudat Zion
And I will utterly destroy. A matter of removal and elimination, as (Deuteronomy 26:13): I have removed the holy thing.
Malbim
"How much more so" — he means to say: there [in the earlier case] he did not [actually] kill Saul, and even had he finished him off, it would not have been at home, only in battle, where he was already a man condemned to death. But here, where they killed him for real, not in battle but in his own house on his bed — this is a second [factor]: that Saul had already been sentenced to death by a prophet who had said to him, "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me," on account of his sins; whereas they killed a righteous man who had committed no sin deserving the death penalty. And now, "shall I not seek," meaning: A. I shall seek his blood; B. and besides this I shall purge you, for you are murderers, shedders of innocent blood.
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
verse value 6905
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 98 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֨ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·their·feet" (וְאֶת־רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 268: in·Hebron, in·Hebron. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "the·young·men" (אֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֜ים), "and·they·killed·them" (וַיַּהַרְג֗וּם), "and·they·cut·off" (וַֽיְקַצְּצ֤וּ). The root חברון appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "Ish-bosheth" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "in·grave·of·Abner" (root אבנר, 46x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root צוה ("and·he·commanded") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root תלה ("and·they·hanged") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Hebron', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Radak
"And they hung them up by the pool." In order that people should see them and know that David, with the uprightness of his heart, avenged the blood of the house of Saul, even though they were his enemies.
Metzudat Zion
They cut off. Cut, as (Psalms 46:10): he cuts off the spear.
At the pool. Near the place of the entrance of the waters, as (above 2:13): the pool of Gibeon.
Malbim
And they cut off their hands, which had performed the deed, and their feet, which had gone to bring the news to David; and they hanged them, so that no person would deliberately extend his hand against a king again. And this was a judgment of a king, not a judgment of Torah law.
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim