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 Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

2 SAMUEL 4:12KJV
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2 Samuel 4:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 4:12 mean?

2 Samuel 4:12 describes how David ordered his young men to execute the killers of Ishbosheth, then had their hands and feet cut off and their bodies displayed publicly at Hebron, while Ishbosheth’s head was given a respectful burial in Abner’s tomb. This verse shows David’s response to the murder of Saul’s son and his desire to distance himself from such violence.

David is the one giving the command, and he is addressing his own men after two individuals brought him the head of Ishbosheth, hoping for a reward. Instead, David punishes them severely, making a public example by displaying their bodies by the pool in Hebron. The respectful burial of Ishbosheth’s head with Abner, Saul’s former commander, highlights David’s respect for Saul’s house and his rejection of treacherous acts.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 4:12

  • צִוָּה (tsivvah, "commanded"): This word emphasizes David’s authority and deliberate decision; he is not acting out of impulse but giving a clear order.
  • נְעָרִים (ne'arim, "young men"): This word refers to David’s servants or soldiers, showing that the action was carried out by his trusted followers.
  • כָּרַת (karat, "cut off"): This verb is used for the cutting off of the hands and feet, a harsh punishment meant to shame and warn others.
  • בְּרֵכָה (berekhah, "pool"): The pool in Hebron was a public place, so displaying the bodies there made the punishment widely visible and sent a strong message.

Why 2 Samuel 4:12 matters

  • This verse clarifies that David did not approve of the murder of Ishbosheth, even though it might have benefited his claim to the throne; he wanted to be seen as just and not as someone who gained power through treachery.
  • The public display of the killers’ bodies at Hebron’s pool served as a warning to others that such actions would not be tolerated, reinforcing David’s commitment to justice.
  • By burying Ishbosheth’s head in Abner’s tomb, David honored the memory of Saul’s house and distanced himself from those who tried to win his favor through violence.

Where else these words appear

“Ishbosheth” Hebrew H378 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Samuel 2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
  • 2 Samuel 2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
  • 2 Samuel 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

“off” Hebrew H7112 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
  • 2 Kings 16:17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“pool” Hebrew H1295 · used in 15 verses

  • 2 Samuel 2:13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
  • Nehemiah 2:14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
  • Isaiah 7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

“up” Hebrew H8518 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 40:19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
  • 2 Samuel 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
  • Esther 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.