Who was Baanah in the Bible?

Baanah was the son of Rimmon, a Benjamite from Beeroth, who, along with his brother Rechab, assassinated King Saul's son Ish-bosheth. They were captains in Ish-bosheth's army but betrayed him, bringing his head to David hoping for a reward (2 Samuel 4:2-8).

What happened to Baanah and Rechab after they killed Ish-bosheth?

King David ordered their execution for murdering an innocent man. David's men killed them, cut off their hands and feet, and publicly displayed their bodies as a judgment for their crime (2 Samuel 4:9-12).

Why is the story of Baanah significant in the Bible?

It demonstrates David's commitment to justice and his refusal to gain the throne through treachery or the murder of Saul's house. This event helped solidify David's legitimacy as a king who ruled by God's law, not by political assassination (2 Samuel 4:9-11).

Baanah

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Baanah and his brother Rechab assassinated Ish-bosheth, hoping to gain favor with David.

Baanah

Biography

Baanah son of Rimmon the Beerothite, along with his brother Rechab, was a captain in the army of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul who briefly ruled Israel after his father's death. Calculating that David's rise was inevitable and hoping to win royal favor, the two brothers conspired to assassinate Ish-bosheth as he slept at midday in his own house (2 Samuel 4:5–7). They beheaded him and brought his head to David at Hebron, presenting it as a gift and claiming they had acted on God's behalf. David's response was swift and unambiguous: he condemned their treachery, noting that when a man had previously brought him news of Saul's death expecting reward, David had executed him. Baanah and Rechab were immediately put to death, their hands and feet cut off, and their bodies hung by the pool at Hebron.

Significance

The story of Baanah and Rechab stands as one of Scripture's clearest illustrations of the principle that ungodly means cannot achieve godly ends. Their assassination of Ish-bosheth violated the sanctity of a king and the laws of hospitality and trust. David's refusal to reward them, despite the political benefit their act conferred, demonstrates his consistent theology of divine providence: God's anointed king did not need to be established through murder and treachery. The account reinforces a recurring biblical theme that God's kingdom is built by God's means (cf. 1 Samuel 24–26). David's justice in punishing Baanah also foreshadows the standards of righteous kingship that would define the Davidic ideal.

Verse Appearances (4)

2Sam

2Sam 4:2 2Sam 4:5 2Sam 4:6 2Sam 4:9

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources