2 Samuel 4:1-4 - All Israel became alarmed

4:1

The murders continue, and once again David had nothing to do with it, and makes a public display to demonstrate that this was so. This time it is Ish-bosheth who is killed. He was the son of Saul and was a very weak king. He learnt that Abner had died at Hebron. He doesn’t seem to be involved in the uniting of the two kingdoms, or at least carrying on unaware. 

4:2-4

Baanah and Rekab were Ish-bosheth’s leaders of raiding parties. They were Bejaminites, or at least considered to be. Jonathan had a son, Mephibosheth, of whom we will hear more later. He was lame because on hearing of the defeat at Jezreel his nurse (more a child-minder) fled, holding him, and had dropped him so he became lame. This meant that he could never be king, for he could not go out with the armies. He was five years old at the time.