As we have consistently seen, David is a man of his word and a man of strong convictions. I believe that he would have extended his mercy to Ishbosheth as he did to his Brother Jonathon’s descendants. David never wanted this war with Saul, and he never had personal reasons to hold Saul’s actions against his descendants. Now as we saw in chapter 3, Abner had already come and negotiated peace, bringing all of Israel under David’s reign. David had no ill will towards Ishbosheth. But Ishbosheth was afraid of David and as we read in verse 1 that he lost heart. These two Beerothites saw Ishbosheth’s weakness and took it upon themselves to kill him in hopes that David would reward them. Two things to take note of. 1: Israel is still reaping the consequences of not seeking the Lord when making a treaty with those men from Gibeon back in Joshua chapter 9.