Even in the ancient world, news traveled fast. When it did, messengers hoped to be rewarded for good news, and to be able to escape with their lives if the report was bad.
In II Samuel, David is developing a reputation for going against the grain of what kings typically did back in that time. To messengers, the death of an enemy (such as Saul slain on Mount Gilboa or Ishbaal murdered in his bed) was believed to be a report that would be received as good news. Those who killed the king's rivals and then ran to tell David about it presumed that they were doing a service and would be richly compensated.
However, David does not view those in the House of Saul as enemies. He had previously pledged his loyalty to both Saul and Jonathan, promising to look out for their descendants. Thus when joyful messengers appear before him celebrating the fact that they took the lives of those belonging to Saul's family, David is less than pleased. Rather than a reward, he dispenses his version of justice by ordering the messengers slain. Such is what happens to Rechab and Baanah reporting on theirs assassination of Ishbaal (vs. 11).
The people are learning that David is a different kind of king.
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