2 Samuel 4:1

2 Samuel 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
• New International Version (NIV)When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.

Context of 2 Samuel 4:1

Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.

2 Samuel 4:1 word by word

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע בֶּן־שָׁא֗וּל כִּ֣י מֵ֤ת אַבְנֵר֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ יָדָ֑יו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִבְהָֽלוּ׃Read the interlinear

• Now when Ish-bosheth sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
• Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
• had diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• in Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
• he lostרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
• courageיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
• and allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• was dismayedבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:1

• 2 Samuel 17:2I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king
• Ezra 4:4Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
• Nehemiah 6:9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
• Isaiah 13:7Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
• Jeremiah 6:24We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
• Jeremiah 50:43The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
• Zephaniah 3:16On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.
• Matthew 2:2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1All the Israelites were troubled - Abner was their great support; and on him they depended; for it appears that Ish-bosheth was a feeble prince, and had few of those qualities requisite for a sovereign.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Ishbosheth murdered. (1-7) David puts to death the murderers. (8-12) Verses 1-7 See how Ishbosheth was murdered! When those difficulties dispirit us, which should sharpen our endeavours, we betray both our heavenly crowns and our earthly lives. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty and ruin. The idle soul is an easy prey to the destroyer. We know not when and where death will meet us. When we lie down to sleep, we are not sure that we may not sleep…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1all Israel was dismayed: Abner’s true power was evident in Ish-bosheth’s reaction to his death (compare Joshua 2:9–11; 5:1). Ish-bosheth’s lack of courage caused the same weakness among those who followed him.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Abner
• Hebron
• Hebron, Kiriath Arba
• Blood
• Ishbosheth
• Government
• Ish-Bosheth
• Samuel, Books of
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary