Who was Rimmon in the Bible?

Rimmon was a Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin and the father of Rechab and Baanah. His sons were commanders who treacherously murdered Ish-bosheth, the son of King Saul, as recorded in 2 Samuel 4.

Why is Rimmon mentioned in the Bible?

Rimmon is mentioned primarily because of the actions of his sons, Rechab and Baanah. Their murder of Ish-bosheth was a pivotal event that helped clear the path for David to become king over all Israel (2 Samuel 4:1-12).

What happened to Rimmon's sons, Rechab and Baanah?

After killing Ish-bosheth, Rechab and Baanah brought his head to King David, expecting a reward. Instead, David had them executed for their crime of murdering an innocent man, as described in 2 Samuel 4:9-12.

Rimmon

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Rimmon was a Beerothite and the father of Rechab and Baanah, who murdered Ish-bosheth, Saul's son.

Rimmon

Biography

Rimmon of Beeroth was a Benjamite whose two sons, Rechab and Baanah, committed one of the most ignoble acts of treachery in Israel's early monarchic history. Following the death of Saul and the fragmentation of the kingdom, Ish-bosheth son of Saul ruled as king in the north with Abner as his military commander. After Abner's assassination by Joab, Ish-bosheth's hold on power became precarious. Rechab and Baanah exploited this vulnerability by murdering Ish-bosheth in his own bed at noon and bringing his severed head to David, apparently expecting reward (2 Samuel 4:5-8). David's response was swift condemnation: he ordered both men executed and their bodies displayed, a public repudiation of the treachery done in his name. Rimmon thus became known through history solely as the father of those who carried out this infamous act.

Significance

The story of Rimmon's sons in 2 Samuel 4 reveals David's deep moral integrity at a pivotal moment in his ascent to power. Their murder of Ish-bosheth was politically convenient for David, yet he refused to benefit from it or allow it to go unpunished. David's judgment echoed his earlier response to the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul (2 Samuel 1): the Lord's anointed was not to be violated, regardless of political advantage. Theologically, the episode affirms that God's kingdom does not advance through treachery and opportunism. It also confirms that David's eventual rule over all Israel came through divine Providence rather than human scheming, an important validation of his legitimate claim to the unified throne.

Verse Appearances (3)

2Sam

2Sam 4:2 2Sam 4:5 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]

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