The Meaning of 2 Samuel 4:1 Explained

2 Samuel 4:1

KJV: And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

YLT: And the son of Saul heareth that Abner is dead in Hebron, and his hands are feeble, and all Israel have been troubled.

Darby: And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were enfeebled, and all Israel was troubled.

ASV: And when Ish-bosheth , Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Saul's  son  heard  that Abner  was dead  in Hebron,  his hands  were feeble,  and all the Israelites  were troubled. 

What does 2 Samuel 4:1 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 4:1-12 - Another Treacherous Deed And Its Penalty
Abner's death rendered hopeless the cause of Ish-bosheth. Two captains incurred lasting shame and deserved punishment by their dastardly act of murder. Their act was the more despicable because of their prince's trust.
How little do coarse natures understand the workings of a really religious nature! These men knew that, if they were in David's place, nothing would please them better than the removal of the last obstacle to the throne. They reasoned that David would feel thus and reward them munificently. But to their astonishment, he turned on them with honest indignation. We must dare to act apart from self-interest, as in the light and fire of the Eternal Throne.
Notice David's devout spirit. He ascribed his redemption to God's tender mercy, 2 Samuel 4:9. His first thought was always of God's love and grace and help. Ah, Christian soul, you, too, will one day attain the sunny heights, standing on which you also will be able to say, "He hath redeemed my soul from all adversity." The night may be long, but the day-spring is at hand. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 4

1  The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner
2  Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-Bosheth, and bring his head to Hebron
9  David causes them to be slain, and Ish-Bosheth's head to be buried

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 4:1 mean?

And when heard son of Saul that had died Abner in Hebron and he lost heart and all Israel was troubled
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע בֶּן־ שָׁא֗וּל כִּ֣י מֵ֤ת אַבְנֵר֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ יָדָ֑יו וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִבְהָֽלוּ

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע  And  when  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שָׁא֗וּל  of  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מֵ֤ת  had  died 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
אַבְנֵר֙  Abner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן  in  Hebron 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶבְרֹון 
Sense: a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar.
וַיִּרְפּ֖וּ  and  he  lost 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָפָה  
Sense: to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.
יָדָ֑יו  heart 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
נִבְהָֽלוּ  was  troubled 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּהַל  
Sense: to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous.