Rechab and Baanah were two men who are mentioned briefly in 2 Samuel 4 in relation to the death of Ish-bosheth, son of King Saul. Here is a detailed look at who these two men were and what role they played in biblical history:
Identity of Rechab and Baanah
Rechab and Baanah were identified as “sons of Rimmon a Beerothite” (2 Samuel 4:2). Beeroth was a town belonging to the Gibeonites, a people who had made peace with Israel during the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 9:3-27). As Gibeonites, Rechab and Baanah would have been distantly related to Saul, Israel’s first king. However, they do not seem to have had any allegiance to Saul’s dynasty.
Beyond identifying their father and home town, the Bible provides little background information on Rechab and Baanah. They appear only briefly in the narrative describing Ish-bosheth’s death. Their names and familial identification suggest they likely had Canaanite, rather than Israelite, ancestry. As Beerothites, they probably would have been viewed as outsiders by the tribes of Israel.
Rechab and Baanah Assassinate Ish-bosheth
After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, Saul’s remaining son Ish-bosheth was made king over Israel by the military commander Abner (2 Samuel 2:8-10). This split the kingdom, as Judah separately anointed David as their king. During the resulting power struggle between the house of Saul and David, Abner defected to David’s side for control of all Israel. He was later treacherously murdered by David’s commander Joab (2 Samuel 3:6-30).
With Abner dead and support for Ish-bosheth crumbling, Rechab and Baanah saw an opportunity. 2 Samuel 4:2-3 describes their assassination of Ish-bosheth: “And Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day). Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.” (ESV)
Rechab and Baanah came to Ish-bosheth’s house while he was taking his midday rest. Going in under the guise of fetching wheat, they stabbed and killed him before beheading him and fleeing with his head (2 Samuel 4:5-7). It was a cruel, treacherous act that removed the last of Saul’s dynasty from power.
David Orders Rechab and Baanah Killed
After assassinating Ish-bosheth, Rechab and Baanah brought his severed head to David at Hebron, thinking they would be rewarded. However, 2 Samuel 4:9-12 describes how David instead rebuked them for their wickedness:
“But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” 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.” (ESV)
Though David had been at odds with Ish-bosheth as a rival, he viewed the assassination as a wicked, treacherous act. By ordering Rechab and Baanah executed, David distanced himself from the murder and honored Ish-bosheth with a proper burial.
Lessons from Rechab and Baanah
Though playing only a brief role, the actions of Rechab and Baanah provide some important lessons and insight:
- God judges wickedness and treachery. Rechab and Baanah’s cruelty did not go unpunished.
- Hasty, unwise decisions often end badly. The assassination was an impulsive act that cost Rechab and Baanah their lives.
- God ultimately decides who rules. Ish-bosheth’s death cleared the way for David, God’s chosen king.
- Evil actions often impact innocents. Ish-bosheth seems to have been a pawn in the larger power struggle.
- Trust and loyalty are valuable. David remained loyal to the house of Saul despite their past conflict.
The choices of Rechab and Baanah illustrate the selfishness, violence and lack of wisdom that characterized much of the time of the judges when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 ESV). Their appearance in the Ish-bosheth narrative provides both a contrast to David’s restraint and justice, as well as a sobering example of the godlessness of their age.
Other Biblical Mentions
Beyond the Ish-bosheth assassination narrative in 2 Samuel 4, Rechab and Baanah receive no other mention in Scripture. However, other notable Rechabites appear in biblical history:
- Jonadab son of Rechab – Helped Jehu overthrow the house of Ahab (2 Kings 10:15-17, 23)
- The Rechabites – A God-fearing nomadic tribe founded by Jonadab (Jeremiah 35)
It is unknown if either Rechab or Baanah were ancestors of the faithful Rechabites who heeded Jonadab’s command to refrain from wine and live in tents. But the mention of other Rechabites in Scripture is a reminder that the legacy of a person’s life extends beyond themselves to the generations that follow.
The End of the House of Saul
The assassination of Ish-bosheth by Rechab and Baanah marked the end of Saul’s dynasty. With Ish-bosheth dead, the tribes of Israel at last united in anointing David as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3). David would usher in a golden era for Israel as he captured Jerusalem, brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city, and received God’s promise of an everlasting dynasty. The house of Saul faded from power, though David showed kindness to Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9).
For all his failures, Saul was still God’s anointed king. His house deserved to be treated with honor even after being supplanted by David’s reign. The murders of Abner and Ish-bosheth showed dishonor and contempt for God’s sovereignty. David’s just actions toward Rechab, Baanah and Mephibosheth demonstrated the worship and reverence for God that Saul lacked as king. David proved himself worthy to establish a godly kingdom in Israel.
Conclusion
In summary, Rechab and Baanah were two obscure Old Testament figures who betrayed and murdered Ish-bosheth, the last surviving son of Saul and heir to his throne. Their brutal actions cost them their own lives when David ordered their execution for murdering an innocent man. The episode provides a sobering example of the violence and lawlessness that characterized the era of the judges. But it also highlights David’s wisdom and justice as he unified the kingdom under his rule and pointed toward Israel’s coming golden age.
