Ish-bosheth אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת
Son of Saul, king over Israel.
Who is Ish-bosheth in the Bible?
Ish-bosheth, also known as Eshbaal, was the son of King Saul who was made king over Israel by the military commander Abner following Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:8-10). He reigned for two years while David ruled over Judah, during which time a prolonged conflict existed between the house of Saul and the house of David (2 Samuel 3:1). His reign ended when two of his own captains, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated him in his bed, and when they brought his head to David expecting a reward, David had them executed for their treachery (2 Samuel 4:5-12). With Ish-bosheth's death, the remaining tribes of Israel transferred their allegiance to David, uniting the kingdom under his rule. His brief and troubled reign marks a crucial transition in Israel's history, as it cleared the final obstacle to David's consolidation of power over all Israel.
Biography
Ish-bosheth, also known as Eshbaal, was the fourth son of King Saul (1Ch.8.33, 9.39). After Saul's death, Abner, the commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth and made him king over Israel, while David reigned over Judah (2Sa.2.8-10). Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for two years.
During his reign, there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David (2Sa.3.1). Abner became angry with Ish-bosheth and defected to David (2Sa.3.8-21). Later, two of Ish-bosheth's captains, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated him while he was resting in his bed. They brought his head to David, hoping for a reward, but David had them executed for their crime (2Sa.4.5-12).
After Ish-bosheth's death, all the tribes of Israel came to David and acknowledged him as king over all Israel (2Sa.5.1-3). The name "Ish-bosheth" means "man of shame," while "Eshbaal" means "man of Baal." The name change may reflect the biblical writer's perspective on the contrast between Ish-bosheth's weak rule and David's divinely appointed kingship.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Jonathan Tribe of JudahSon of JadaSon of Jada, descendant of JudahView full profile →
- Abinadab MaleFather of Ben-abinadabSolomon's son-in-law, an official in his governmentView full profile →
- Malchi-shua Tribe of BenjaminSon of SaulSon of King Saul, killed in battle against the Philistines.View full profile →
- Merab Tribe of BenjaminSaul's daughterEldest daughter of King Saul.View full profile →
- Michal Tribe of BenjaminSaul's daughterDaughter of Saul; wife of David.View full profile →
- Armoni Tribe of BenjaminSaul's familySon of Saul by Rizpah, killed by GibeonitesView full profile →
- Mephibosheth Tribe of BenjaminSon of SaulSon of Saul and Rizpah, given to the Gibeonites.View full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:8
"Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,"
- 2 Samuel 2:10
"Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David."
- 2 Samuel 2:12
"One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon."
- 2 Samuel 2:15
"So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David."
- 2 Samuel 3:8
"Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse..."
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 8:33
"Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal."
- 1 Chronicles 9:39
"Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת |
| Named | Hebrew | אֶשְׁבַּעַל |
Ish-bosheth
am.14.49">1Sa 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 (1Ch 8:33; 9:39; 1Sa 14:49) who, when his father and brothers were slain in the battle of Gilboa (1Sa 31:1), was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's host, at Mahanaim (2Sa 2:8). Ishbosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel 2 years (2Sa 2:10). Judah, however, proclaimed David its king. The consequence was war (2Sa 2:12). The house of David prevailed against the house of Saul (2Sa 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 (2Sa 3:6). David's condition to return to him Michal, his wife before peace could be made, was fulfilled by Ish-Bosheth (2Sa 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 (2Sa 4:1). The shameful murder of Ish-Bosheth by his own captains is recorded in 2Sa 4:5 ff. David punished the murderers who had expected reward and buried Ish-Bosheth in the grave of Abner at Hebron (2Sa 4:12 f).
Arthur L. Breslich
ish'-se-kel ('ish sekhel, "man of discretion"): Ezra, at one time in need of ministers for the house of God, sent "unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia." "And according to the good hand of our God upon us they