Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 4:6

"And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped." — 2 Samuel 4:6 (ASV)

As though they would have fetched wheat.—Literally, fetching wheat. The English version gives the sense, since fetching wheat (probably for their soldiers) was a pretext to cover their purpose. The Septuagint has a curious addition here: “And, behold, the portress of the house was cleansing wheat, and she slumbered and slept, and the brothers slipped through.” On “the fifth rib” (meaning the abdomen), see Note on 2 Samuel 2:23.