And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet. The cutting off the hands and feet of criminals convicted of treason was an ancient custom in the East, and is still continued.
And hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. Outside the town of Hebron is a pool of good water, which, being below the level of the adjoining ground, is accessible by flights of steps at each corner; and there is another reservoir at a little distance, both of which are very ancient. One or other of these must certainly be the pool referred to. The exposure of the mutilated relics of the two assassins at the pool was owing to its being a place of public resort. The exposure of the mutilated remains were intended as not only a punishment of their crime, but also the attestation of David's abhorrence.
Took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron. This sepulchre is stall shown at a spot a few yards from the mosque (see the notes at 2 Samuel 3:39).