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.
2 SAMUEL 4:6KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 4:6 mean?
2 Samuel 4:6 describes how two men, Rechab and Baanah, entered a house pretending they were coming to get wheat, but instead attacked and wounded a man under the fifth rib before escaping. The verse shows a moment of betrayal carried out under the cover of an ordinary task.
In this passage, the story is about Rechab and Baanah, who were captains under Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul. They used the pretense of fetching wheat to gain access to Ish-bosheth’s house, where they attacked him in a vulnerable spot. This act is part of a larger narrative about the struggle for power after King Saul’s death.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 4:6
- "midst" (תָּוֶךְ, tavek): This word means the very middle or center of something. Here, it emphasizes that Rechab and Baanah went right into the heart of the house, not just at the entrance, showing their boldness and intent.
- "fetched" (לָקַח, laqach): This verb means to take or get. The men used the excuse of taking wheat, which would have been a normal, non-threatening activity, to hide their real purpose.
- "fifth" (חֹמֶשׁ, chomes): This refers to the area under the fifth rib, often understood as a vulnerable spot near vital organs. The detail suggests a deliberate, targeted attack meant to be fatal.
Why 2 Samuel 4:6 matters
- This verse clears up that Rechab and Baanah’s attack was not a sudden outburst but a planned act of deception, using an everyday task as their cover.
- The detail about striking "under the fifth rib" highlights the calculated and deadly nature of their action, not just a random blow.
- Understanding this verse helps explain the political tension and violence that marked the transition from Saul’s rule to David’s, showing how trust was broken even among supposed allies.