2 Samuel 4:1

2 Samuel 4:1 says, And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.  When Saul’s son Ishbosheth, who had been appointed king by Abner, heard that Abner was dead, he was very afraid.   Abner had been the power behind the throne, and now he was gone.  People may be perfectly willing to assume the role of a leader until they are left alone and actually have to rule by their own power.  Verse two adds, And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerotmayhite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:  Still only referred to as Saul’s son, Ishbosheth had two captains with him still, so at this point he didn't appear to be without help.  Verse three continues, And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)   We should not be surprised if those who have been serving a particular individual whom they put their faith in eventually prove to be more devoted to that individual than to God and those that they are supposed to serve, as these two would prove to be. Verse four concludes, And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.  Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was five years old and lame.  His nurse took him and fled, likely fearing that he would be a target of execution now that there was little protection.  It then says that in the nurses haste to flee, that Mephibosheth fell and he became lame.  Matthew Henry points out that even though he was the rightful heir to the throne under man's law of succession and was being well cared for by a nurse, he was not immune to a lifelong disability, so we should thank God for our healthy children if we are blessed enough to have them.  Verse five states, And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.  The two captains who remained came around about noon and found Ishbosheth still in bed.  Matthew Henry points out that instead of being up and taking charge at this time as a king should, Ishbosheth was still in bed at noon.  Those who have been relying on others to keep them in power may suddenly lose all heart once that person or those people are gone, but as Christians we can be sure that our source of power, God Himself, will never leave us powerless.  The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us always in this life.  Verse six adds, And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.  Rechab and Baanah came into Ishbosheth`s house under the presence of getting some wheat and killed him instead.  It seems they were more loyal to Abner than they were to Ishbosheth and they thought they would gain favor with David by doing this.  We should never do things for self-glory and we certainly shouldn't do things without first seeking God's guidance in the matter.  Verse six continues, For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.  Rechab and Baanah killed Ishbosheth as he lay in the bed and beheaded him.  They didn't even give him a chance to defend himself.  We may still be ambushed by those who we think to be friends if it somehow serves our purpose, but we must never be the one doing the betraying.  Verse eight concludes, And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.  They brought Ishbosheth's head to David, thinking this would bring them honor from David.  They assumed David would be pleased, but he had been doing all he could to prevent killing Saul or his descendants.  We may do things that we think are going to bring us honor with the one we are doing it for that they never wanted done in the first place, especially if they are done without consulting God or those we are supposedly doing them for.