Study Desk

When [Ish-Boshet], Sha'ul's son, heard that Aviner was dead in Hevron, his hands became feeble, and all the Yisra'elites were troubled.

Now Yonatan, Sha'ul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Sha'ul and Yonatan out of Yizre`el; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. His name was Mefivoshet.

The sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, Rechav and Ba`anah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Boshet, as he took his rest at noon.

They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechav and Ba`anah his brother escaped.

Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the `Aravah all night.

They brought the head of Ish-Boshet to David to Hevron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-Boshet, the son of Sha'ul, your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Sha'ul, and of his seed.

David answered Rechav and Ba`anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, and said to them, As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

when one told me, saying, Behold, Sha'ul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Tziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the eretz?

David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hevron. But they took the head of Ish-Boshet, and buried it in the grave of Aviner in Hevron.

The king and his men went to Yerushalayim against the Yevusi, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here; thinking, David can't come in here.

David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Yisra'el, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Yisra'el's sake.

They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakhon, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.

The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

The ark of the LORD remained in the house of `Oved-'Edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed `Oved-'Edom, and all his house.

David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen efod.

He dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Yisra'el, both to men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house.

Then David returned to bless his household. Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Yisra'el today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!

David said to Mikhal, [It was] before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Yisra'el: therefore will I play before the LORD.