English Standard Version
2 Samuel 4:1
1When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.
Context of 2 Samuel 4:1
When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; 3the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).
Read all of 2 Samuel 42 Samuel 4:1 word by word
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע בֶּן־שָׁא֗וּל כִּ֣י מֵ֤ת אַבְנֵר֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ יָדָ֑יו וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִבְהָֽלוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- that Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- was deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
- his handsיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- were feebleרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
- and all the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- were troubledבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:1
- 2 Samuel 17:2I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,
- Ezra 4:4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
- Nehemiah 6:9For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
- Isaiah 13:7Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
- Jeremiah 6:24We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.
- Jeremiah 50:43"The king of Babylon heard the report of them, and his hands fell helpless; anguish seized him, pain as of a woman in labor.
- Zephaniah 3:16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
- Matthew 2:2saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose 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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries