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, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed. 2Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of bands: the name of the one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been aliens there until this day).

2 Samuel 4:1 word by word

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

• Ish-bosheth, Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• 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 disturbedבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:1

• 2 Samuel 17:2I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone,
• Ezra 4:4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,
• Nehemiah 6:9For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
• Isaiah 13:7Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man’s heart will melt.
• Isaiah 35:3Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
• Jeremiah 6:24We have heard the report of it; Our hands are limp. Anguish has seized us, Pain as of a woman in childbirth.
• Jeremiah 50:43The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, And his hands hang limp; Distress has gripped him, Agony like a woman in childbirth.
• Zephaniah 3:16In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.
• Matthew 2:2“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For 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