English Standard Version
2 Samuel 4:12
12And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
2 Samuel 4:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish–bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
- New International Version (NIV)So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.
Context of 2 Samuel 4:12
10when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?" And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
Read all of 2 Samuel 42 Samuel 4:12 word by word
וַיְצַו֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֜ים וַיַּהַרְג֗וּם וַֽיְקַצְּצ֤וּ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְל֥וּ עַל־הַבְּרֵכָ֖ה בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וְאֵ֨ת רֹ֤אשׁ אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ בְקֶֽבֶר־אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- his young menנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- and they slewהָרַגhârag · to killH2026
- them, and cut offקָצַץqâtsats · to cutH7112
- their handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- and their feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
- upתָּלָהtâlâh · to hangH8518
- over the poolבְּרֵכָהberêkâh · poolH1295
- in Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
- But they tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- of Ish–boshethאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת'îysh-bôsheth · Ish-boshethH378
- and buriedקָבַרqâbar · to buryH6912
- in the sepulchreקֶ֫בֶרqeber qibrâh · graveH6913
- of Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:12
- 2 Samuel 1:15Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go, execute him." And he struck him down so that he died.
- Psalms 55:23But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
- Matthew 7:2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
- 2 Samuel 21:9and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before the Lord, and the seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest.
- Deuteronomy 21:22"And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,
- 2 Samuel 3:32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12And they slew them - None ever more richly deserved death; and by this act of justice, David showed to all Israel that he was a decided enemy to the destruction of Saul's family; and that none could lift up their hands against any of them without meeting with condign punishment. In all these cases I know not that it was possible for David to show more sincerity, or a stricter regard for justice.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Cut off their hands - After they were dead. Their hands and feet were hung up in a place of public resort, both to deter others and also to let all Israel know that David was not privy to the murder of Ish-bosheth.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12They cut off their hands and feet: David displayed the bodies of Ish-bosheth’s killers to shame them by denying them a proper burial (compare 1 Samuel 31:8–13). This public act also showed that David was not responsible for Ish-bosheth’s death.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet--as the instruments in perpetrating their crime. The exposure of the mutilated remains was intended as not only a punishment of their crime, but also the attestation of David's abhorrence.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 4:12
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