1 C uando Isboset hijo de Saúl supo que habían matado a Abner en Hebrón, se angustió, y todo el pueblo de Israel se llenó de temor.

When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his strength of heart. All Israel was troubled.

2 I sboset contaba con dos hombres de su confianza, que estaban al frente de unas bandas de bandoleros; uno de ellos se llamaba Baná, y el otro Recab, y los dos eran hijos de un benjaminita de Berot llamado Rimón. (A Berot se le consideraba parte de la tribu de Benjamín.

Saul’s son had two men who were captains of small armies. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of Benjamin. (For Beeroth is thought of as part of Benjamin.

3 L os habitantes de Berot habían huido a Guitayin, y hasta la fecha viven allí como forasteros.)

The people of Beeroth ran to Gittaim, and have been strangers there to this day.)

4 J onatán, el hijo de Saúl, tenía un hijo lisiado que se llamaba Mefiboset. Cuando llegó a Jezrel la noticia de que Saúl y Jonatán habían muerto, Mefiboset tenía cinco años de edad. Su nodriza, llena de miedo, lo tomó y huyó con él; pero en su huida el niño se le cayó, y por eso quedó lisiado.

Now Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who could not walk because of his feet. He was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse had picked him up and ran. In her hurry to get away, he fell and hurt his feet so he could not walk. His name was Mephibosheth.

5 U n día, los hijos de Rimón el berorita, es decir, Recab y Baná, entraron en la casa de Isboset mientras éste dormía la siesta en su alcoba. Era la hora en que hacía más calor,

The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, left and came to the family of Ish-bosheth. It was during the heat of the day, while Ish-bosheth was taking his noon rest.

6 y la portera de Isboset, que había estado limpiando el trigo, se había quedado dormida. Recab y su hermano Baná aprovecharon esto y se metieron a la casa.

They came to the center of the house as if to get wheat, and they hit Ish-bosheth in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah ran away.

7 A l entrar y ver que Isboset dormía la siesta, lo mataron y le cortaron la cabeza, y llevándosela con ellos caminaron toda esa noche por el camino del Arabá.

They had come into the house while he was lying on his bed in his room. And they had hit him and killed him and cut off his head. They took his head and traveled by the way of Arabah all night.

8 L uego, al llegar a Hebrón, le entregaron la cabeza al rey David y le dijeron: «Aquí tienes la cabeza de tu enemigo Isboset, el hijo de Saúl, que te quería matar. En este día el Señor ha permitido a Su Majestad vengarse de Saúl y de su descendencia.»

Then they brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “See, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, who hated you and tried to kill you. So this day the Lord has punished Saul and his children for the king.”

9 P ero David les respondió: «Juro por el Señor, que me ha librado de toda angustia,

David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite. He said to them, “As the Lord lives, Who has saved my life from all trouble,

10 q ue cuando otro hombre, pensando que me traía buenas noticias, me comunicó que Saúl había muerto, yo lo agarré y, en pago de esa noticia, le di muerte en Siclag.

when one told me, ‘See, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was bringing good news. But I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag. This was the reward I gave him for his news.

11 ¡ Con más razón haré lo mismo a los malvados que mataron a un inocente mientras dormía en su cama! ¿No creen que debo vengar esa muerte y eliminarlos de este mundo?»

How much worse it is when sinful men have killed a man who is right and good, on his bed in his own house! Should I not now punish you for his blood and destroy you from the earth?”

12 D icho esto, David ordenó a sus siervos que les dieran muerte, y ellos así lo hicieron, y además les cortaron las manos y los pies, y los colgaron junto al estanque de Hebrón; luego tomaron la cabeza de Isboset y la enterraron en el sepulcro de Abner, en Hebrón.

Then David had the young men kill them and cut off their hands and feet. They hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s grave in Hebron.