“And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.”
Meaning, that he was discouraged. That is, Ishbosheth.
“And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: other: Heb. second”
This city Beeroth was in the tribe of Benjamin, Josh. 18:25 .
“And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)”
After the death of Saul, for fear of the Philistines.
“And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.”
They disguised themselves as merchants, which came to buy wheat. There is nothing so vile and dangerous, which the wicked will not enterprise in hope of lucre and favor.
“When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: thinking: Heb. he was in his own eyes as a bringer, etc who: or, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings”
Cross references: : 2 Sam. 1:15
“How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?”
Forasmuch as neither the example of him that slew Saul, nor duty to their master, nor the innocency of the person, nor reverence of the place, nor time did move them, they deserved most grievous punishment.