New English Translation
2 Samuel 4:12
12So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Samuel 4:12
10when someone told me that Saul was dead – even though he thought he was bringing good news – I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him! 11Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?” So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in 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 soldiers and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died.
- Psalms 55:23But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan. But as for me, I trust in you.
- Matthew 7:2For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.
- 2 Samuel 21:9He turned them over to the Gibeonites, and they executed them on a hill before the Lord. The seven of them died together; they were put to death during harvest time – during the first days of the beginning of the barley harvest.
- Deuteronomy 21:22If a person commits a sin punishable by death and is executed, and you hang the corpse on a tree,
- 2 Samuel 3:32So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too.
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
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