שמואל ב, פרק ד׳, פסוק י״א

King David confronts the assassins of Ish-bosheth, delivering a powerful argument based on a past judgment. He draws a direct comparison to his execution of the Amalekite youth who struck King Saul and reported his death. The logic is clear: if David severely punished someone who harmed Saul, there is absolutely no justification for the current murderers' actions [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

There is a vast difference between the two events, both in how the killings occurred and in the character of the victims. The Amalekite encountered Saul in the chaos of battle, merely speeding up the death of a king who was already mortally wounded by a sword and had asked to be killed [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. In stark contrast, these assassins murdered a man in the safety of his own home, resting on his bed, completely unprovoked. Furthermore, David specifically recognizes Ish-bosheth as a righteous man, emphasizing his complete innocence compared to Saul. Although Saul was chosen by God, he carried the weight of grave sins, such as killing the priests of Nob and disobeying the prophet. Because of these acts, a heavenly death sentence already hung over him [מלבי״ם, חומת אנך]. Ish-bosheth, however, committed no wrong that warranted death. Even his acceptance of the kingship over Israel in David's place was not considered a sin, as it was driven by Abner and the people, who interpreted scripture and sincerely believed he was the rightful heir [חומת אנך].

Faced with wicked men who shed innocent blood, David declares his intent to avenge the murder and utterly remove the killers from the earth [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The execution is carried out measure for measure. David orders their hands removed because they raised them against a king, and their feet cut off because they hurried to his home and rushed to deliver the news. Their hanging serves as direct retribution for beheading Ish-bosheth, while also acting as a stark public warning against ever harming God's anointed. Amidst this severe justice, David ensures the victim is treated with dignity, bringing Ish-bosheth's head to Hebron to be respectfully buried in the tomb of his relative, Abner [אברבנאל].