Topical Encyclopedia
Name and Meaning:Ish-bosheth, meaning "man of shame," was the son of King Saul and a significant figure in the transitional period of Israel's monarchy. His original name was Eshbaal, which means "man of Baal," but it was later changed, likely to avoid the association with the Canaanite deity Baal (
1 Chronicles 8:33;
1 Chronicles 9:39).
Family Background:Ish-bosheth was the fourth son of King Saul, Israel's first king, and his mother was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz (
1 Samuel 14:50). He had three brothers: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, all of whom died with Saul in the battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa (
1 Samuel 31:2).
Reign and Political Context:After the death of Saul, Ish-bosheth was made king over Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul's army. His reign was primarily over the northern tribes of Israel, while David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron (
2 Samuel 2:8-10). Ish-bosheth's rule lasted for two years, during which time there was ongoing conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David (
2 Samuel 3:1).
Conflict with David:The kingdom was divided, with Ish-bosheth ruling from Mahanaim, east of the Jordan River, and David ruling from Hebron. The tension between the two houses was marked by a series of skirmishes and political maneuvers. Abner, the power behind Ish-bosheth's throne, initially supported him but later defected to David after a falling out with Ish-bosheth over a personal dispute (
2 Samuel 3:6-11).
Assassination and Death:Ish-bosheth's reign came to an abrupt end when he was assassinated by two of his own captains, Baanah and Rechab, who sought favor with David by bringing him Ish-bosheth's head (
2 Samuel 4:5-8). However, David condemned their treachery and had them executed, demonstrating his respect for the anointed king and his desire to unify Israel under legitimate means (
2 Samuel 4:9-12).
Legacy and Theological Significance:Ish-bosheth's brief and troubled reign highlights the tumultuous period of transition from the rule of Saul to the establishment of David's dynasty. His account underscores themes of loyalty, divine providence, and the legitimacy of kingship in Israel. Despite his weak leadership, Ish-bosheth's role in the biblical narrative serves as a backdrop to the rise of David, a man after God's own heart, who would unite the tribes and establish Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the only one who survived him (
2 Samuel 2-4). His name was originally Eshbaal (
1 Chronicles 8:33;
9:39). He was about forty years of age when his father and three brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. Through the influence of Abner, Saul's cousin, he was acknowledged as successor to the throne of Saul, and ruled over all Israel, except the tribe of Judah (over whom David was king), for two years, having Mahanaim, on the east of Jordan, as his capital (
2 Samuel 2:9). After a troubled and uncertain reign he was murdered by his guard, who stabbed him while he was asleep on his couch at mid-day (
2 Samuel 4:5-7); and having cut off his head, presented it to David, who sternly rebuked them for this cold-blooded murder, and ordered them to be immediately executed (9-12).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ISH-BOSHETHish-bo'-sheth ('ish-bosheth, "man of shame" Iesbosthe): Called 'eshba`al, "man of Baal" (1 Chronicles 8:33), and yishwi, "man of Yahweh" (?), perhaps for 'isheyo (1 Samuel 14:49). Compare ESHBAAL and ISHVI (the King James Version "Ishui"). We probably have the right meaning of the name in Eshbaal and Ishvi, the words Baal and Yahweh being frequently interchanged. The change to Ish-bosheth, "man of shame," in 2 Samuel, where the story of his shameful murder is related, may be better explained as reference to this (see MEPHIBOSHETH, whose name was also changed from Merib-baal for similar reasons), than to find here a suggestion of Baal-worship, but see HPN, 121, where the change is explained as a correction of the scribes, in consequence of prophetic protests.
One of the sons of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33;1 Chronicles 9:391 Samuel 14:49) who, when his father and brothers were slain in the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1), was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's host, at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8). Ishbosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel 2 years (2 Samuel 2:10). Judah, however, proclaimed David its king. The consequence was war (2 Samuel 2:12). The house of David prevailed against the house of Saul (2 Samuel 3:1), but the war did not come to a close until Abner, angry on account of the rebuke he suffered from Ish-Bosheth for his unlawful intimacy with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, joined David (2 Samuel 3:6). David's condition to return to him Michal, his wife before peace could be made, was fulfilled by Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 3:14 f), but it was not until after Abner's death that Ish-Bosheth seems to have given up hopes of retaining his power (2 Samuel 4:1). The shameful murder of Ish-Bosheth by his own captains is recorded in2 Samuel 4:5. David punished the murderers who had expected reward and buried Ish-Bosheth in the grave of Abner at Hebron (2 Samuel 4:12 f).
Arthur L. Breslich
Strong's Hebrew
378.Ish-bosheth -- "man of shame," a son of Saul and king of Isr.Ish-
bosheth. 377, 378.
Ish-
bosheth. 379 . "man of shame," a son of
Saul and king of Isr. Transliteration:
Ish-
bosheth Phonetic
...792. Eshbaal -- "man of Baal," a son of Saul
... Eshbaal. From 'iysh and Ba'al; man of Baal; Eshbaal (orIshbosheth), a son of Saul --
Eshbaal. see HEBREW 'iysh. see HEBREW Ba'al. 791, 792. Eshbaal. 793 ....
Library
That Upon the Slaughter ofIshbosheth by the Treachery of his...
... CHAPTER 2. That Upon The Slaughter OfIshbosheth By The Treachery Of His Friends,
David Received The Whole Kingdom. 1. WhenIshbosheth...
The History of David
... And Abner prince of the host of Saul, and other servants of Saul, tookIshbosheth
the son of Saul, and led him about, and made him king over Israel, except the...
One Fold and one Shepherd
... conquest is marked, not only by Abner's flight to Mahanaim, but by the reckoning
that David reigned for seven and a half years andIshbosheth two; for these...
How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... other sons, were fallen in the battle, he made haste into the camp; and taking away
with him the remaining son of Saul, whose name wasIshbosheth, he passed...
The Kingdom of all Israel.
... For seven years David reigned only in his own tribe of Judah, while the brave Abner
kept the rest of the kingdom for Saul's son,Ishbosheth, until, taking...
The King.
... made it the nucleus of a feeble and lingering opposition to David, headed by Saul's
cousin Abner, and rallying round his incompetent sonIshbosheth.[Q] The...
The Reign of David.
... seven and one-half years. During this periodIshbosheth, son of Saul, reigned
over Israel in the North. It is probable that both...
The Bright Dawn of a Reign
...Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and...
The puppet king is namedIshbosheth in the lesson, but 1 Chronicles 8:33 and...
David and Jonathan's Son
... Saul and three of his four sons had fallen on the fatal field of Gilboa; the fourth,
the weakIshbosheth, had been murdered after his abortive attempt at...
Questions.
... 13. What was the end of Saul? 14. Who reigned over the rest of Israel? 15. What
became ofIshbosheth? 16. What were David's conquests? 17....
Thesaurus
Ishbosheth (13 Occurrences)... the captain of Saul's host, at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8).
Ishbosheth was 40
... until Abner,
angry on account of the rebuke he suffered from
Ish-
Bosheth for his
...Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences)
Ish-bosheth.Ishbosheth,Ish-bosheth. Ish-bo'sheth . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
Ishbosheth,Ish-bosheth. Ish-bo'sheth . Reference Bible.
Ish-bosheth's (1 Occurrence)
Ish-bosheth's. Ish-bo'sheth,Ish-bosheth's. Ishhod . Multi-Version
ConcordanceIsh-bosheth's (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel...
Ish-bo'sheth (13 Occurrences)
...Ish-bosheth, Ish-bo'sheth.Ish-bosheth's .... (See RSV). 2 Samuel 3:11 And so great
wasIsh-bosheth's fear of Abner that he was not able to say a word in answer...
Rechab (13 Occurrences)
... (1.) One ofIshbosheth's "captains of... of Beeroth, son of Rimmon (2 Samuel 4:2); he
and his brother Baanah were "captains" of the military host ofIsh-bosheth....
Baanah (10 Occurrences)
... He and his brother Rechab assassinatedIshbosheth (2 Samuel 4:2), and were on...
ba`anah, ("son of oppression"): (1) Captain in the army ofIsh-bosheth (2 Samuel...
Mahanaim (15 Occurrences)
... Here Saul's sonIshbosheth reigned (2 Samuel 2:8, 12), while David reigned
at Hebron. Here also, after a troubled reign,Ishbosheth...
Ashurites (2 Occurrences)
... Mentioned among those over whomIsh-bosheth was made king (2 Samuel 2:9). Int.... The
tribe of Asher lay where it would naturally fall toIsh-bosheth's kingdom....
Ashhur (2 Occurrences)
... Thenius and Wellhausen, is untenable, for during the reign ofIsh-bosheth Geshur
was... Furthermore Geshur was too far away from the rest ofIshbosheth's territory...
Saul's (79 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:10Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to... 12 And
Abner, the son of Ner, with the servants of Saul's sonIsh-bosheth, went out...
Resources
What is the story of David and Ish-Bosheth? | GotQuestions.orgWho were Rechab and Baanah? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the story of Abner and Joab? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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