Topical Encyclopedia
Name Meaning: The name Ishbosheth means "man of shame" in Hebrew. He is also referred to as Eshbaal, which means "man of Baal" (
1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39), indicating a possible original name that was later altered to avoid association with the Canaanite deity Baal.
Biblical References: Ishbosheth is primarily mentioned in
2 Samuel 2-4. He is also referenced in
1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39.
Family Background: Ishbosheth was the son of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and his wife Ahinoam. He was the youngest of Saul's four sons. His brothers were Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
Reign: After the death of Saul and his brothers at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, Ishbosheth was made king over Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul's army. His reign lasted for two years (
2 Samuel 2:10). Ishbosheth ruled over the northern tribes of Israel, while David was king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron.
Political Context: Ishbosheth's reign was marked by a division in the kingdom of Israel. The nation was split between those loyal to the house of Saul and those who supported David. Abner, a powerful military leader, was the driving force behind Ishbosheth's kingship, and his support was crucial for Ishbosheth's rule.
Conflict with David: The house of Saul, under Ishbosheth, was in constant conflict with the house of David. This period was characterized by a series of skirmishes and political maneuvering. The tension between the two houses is exemplified in the battle at the pool of Gibeon, where the forces of Ishbosheth, led by Abner, clashed with David's men, led by Joab (
2 Samuel 2:12-17).
Abner's Defection: A significant turning point in Ishbosheth's reign was the defection of Abner to David's side. This occurred after a falling out between Ishbosheth and Abner over a concubine of Saul named Rizpah. Ishbosheth accused Abner of taking Rizpah, which led to Abner's anger and decision to support David (
2 Samuel 3:6-11). Abner's defection weakened Ishbosheth's position significantly.
Assassination: Ishbosheth'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 Ishbosheth's head (
2 Samuel 4:5-8). However, David condemned their actions and had them executed for murdering an innocent man in his own home (
2 Samuel 4:9-12).
Legacy: Ishbosheth's brief and troubled reign is often seen as a transitional period in the history of Israel, marking the decline of Saul's dynasty and the rise of David as the undisputed king of a united Israel. His account highlights the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the divine providence in the establishment of David's kingdom.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Ishboshetha man of shame
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Ishbosheth(man of shame) the youngest of Saul's four sons, and his legitimate successor. (B.C. 1068.) Ish-bosheth was "forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years." (2 Samuel 3:10) During these two years he reigned at Mahanaim, though only in name. The wars and negotiations with David were entirely carried on by Abner (2 Samuel 2:12;3:6,12) The death of Abner deprived the house of Saul of its last remaining support. When Ish-bosheth heard of it, "his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled." He was murdered in his bed.
ATS Bible Dictionary
IshboshethSon and successor of Saul. Abner, Saul's kinsman and general so managed that Ishbosheth was acknowledged king at Mahanaim by the greater part of Israel, while David reigned at Hebron over Judah. He was forty-four years of age when he began to reign, and he reigned two years peaceably; after which he was involved in a long and unsuccessful war against David. Being abandoned by Abner, whom he had provoked, he became more and more feeble, and was at last assassinated,2 Samuel 2:8-11 3:1-4:12. SeeESHBAAL.
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
792. Eshbaal -- "man of Baal," a son of Saul... Eshbaal. From 'iysh and Ba'al; man of Baal; Eshbaal (or
Ishbosheth), 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...
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...
The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... case. The puppet king is namedIshbosheth in the lesson, but 1 Chronicles
8:33 and ix.39 show that his real name was Esh-baal. The...
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)... 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
...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...
Rechab (13 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Horseman, or chariot. (1.) One ofIshbosheth's "captains
of bands" or leaders of predatory troops (2 Samuel 4:2)....
Baanah (10 Occurrences)
... He and his brother Rechab assassinatedIshbosheth (2 Samuel 4:2), and were on this
account slain by David, and their mutilated bodies suspended over the pool...
Abner (54 Occurrences)
... the fuller form, 'abhiner, Abiner; compare Abiram by the side of Abram; meaning,
"my father is a lamp"): Captain of the host under Saul andIshbosheth (Eshbaal...
Saul's (79 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had takenIshbosheth
the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY...
Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences)
Ish-bosheth.Ishbosheth, Ish-bosheth. Ish-bo'sheth . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT NAS NIV).Ishbosheth, Ish-bosheth. Ish-bo'sheth ....
Ner (17 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:8 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had takenIshbosheth
the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV...
Rizpah (4 Occurrences)
... Her marriage to Abner was the occasion of a quarrel between him andIshbosheth,
which led to Abner's going over to the side of David (2 Samuel 3:17-21). Int....
Ba'anah (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 4:2Ishbosheth, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of bands: the
name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of...
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