Difference between revisions of "Ish-bosheth" - New World Encyclopedia

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Ish-bosheth (also called Eshba'al or Ashba'al or Ishbaal), appears in the Hebrew Bible. He was one of the four sons of King Saul, and was chosen as the second king over the united Kingdom of Israel after his father's and three brothers' deaths at the Battle of Mount Gilboa.

Biography

Ish-bosheth was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's army, at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8), after his father and brothers were slain in the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1). Ish-bosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel for two years (2 Samuel 2:10).

Prior to this time, Saul's son Jonathan had been the hier apparent to the throne of Israel. However, he was slain along with his father at the battle of Gilboa. Meanwhile, Saul's former captain and estranged son-in-law, David, had established a following among the tribe of Judah and had allied himself with the Philistine king (NAME). Prior to the battle of Gilboa, David ended this alliance and now sought the kingship. Although Ish-bosheth was next in line by right of succession, David claimed divine authority on the basis of his being anointed by the prophet Samuel.

A long civil war followed (2 Samuel 2:12). Ish-bosheth, who establish his capital at Mahanaim, supported by Saul's army under Abher. The Bible indicates that Ish-bosheth controled the larger terrority, including: "Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel." (2:9) David, meanwhile, reigned only over a single tribe, Judah.

Abner and Joab

The Bible relates few details about the war between David as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. A key element in the struggle was a blood feud between Ish-bosheth's general, Abner, and David's general, Joab.

In a moment of apparent peace between the two camps, Joab meets Abner, at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposes that their men engage in hand-to-hand combat. The fighting. involving 12 young warriors from each side, turns serious, with Joab's men gaining the upper hand. Joab's fleet-footed brother Asahel chases Abner. For fear of creating bad blood between his family and Joab's, Abner declines to engage Ashael. However, when Asahel refuses to give up the chase, Abner finally turns and slays him with a spear thrust. Joab's forces pursue Abner to exact vengeance, and the tribe of Benjamin rallies to Abner's defense. Abner offers a truce, and Joab accepts. The casualties among Joab's forces are counted at 19 missing, while the number of dead among Abner's allies is 360.

Abner's defection

The struggle between David's forces and Ish-Bosheth's continued for several years. The Bible relates that during the course of events, "David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker." (2 Sam. 3:1) A major event in David's favor occurred when Abner turned traitor and went over to David's side after a scandal involving his alleged affair with a concubine of Ish-Bosheth's father, Saul (2 Sam. 3).

Having strengthened his own position in Ish-bosheth's kingdom, Abner allegedly sought to increase his political position by taking posession of Saul's former concubine, Rizpah daughter of Aiah. When Ish-bosheth attempted to assert his own authority by accusing Abner of this crime, Abner did not deny it, but rebuffed Ish-bosheth, saying:

Am I a dog's head—-on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! (3:8)

Fearing Abner's position as the veteran leader of the army, Ish-bosheth failed to act decisively in the matter, and Abner used the opportunity to send messengers to David offering to defect. "Make an agreement with me," Abner offered, "and I will help you bring all Israel over to you."

As proof of Abner's good faith and his ability to deliver, David demands that he bring with him Michal, the daughter of Saul, who had been David's first love and young wife, but had later been given by Saul to another man. The fearful Ish-Bosheth then foolishly allows both Michal and Abner to leave, giving orders that she be taken forcibly from her husband. A pitiful scene follows, in her husband, Paltiel son of Laish follows after her, "weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim," until the decisive Abner orders him to go home.

Abner comes then to David at his capital of Hebron, bringing not only Michal, but also 20 soldiers and a pledge of loyalty from the entire tribe of Benjamin, as well as elements of other northern tribes who have lost faith in Ish-Bosheth's leadership. David then dispatches Abner north to garner additional support for David's cause.

However, David has not counted on the blood-vengeance of his own general, Joab. Learning of Abner's visit to Hebron, Joab immediately sends messengers to recall him. When Abner dutifully returns, Joab stabs him in the stomach and kills him, "to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel." No doubt he also senses in Abner a threat to his own position. David publicly declares himself innocent of the crime, cursing Joab's family and ordering him to publicly repent for the murder. However he does not demote Joab or otherwise punish him for his act.

Death

Still apparently believing that Abner was on Israel's side and not David's Ish-Bosheth, reportedly became greatly discouraged at the news of Abner's death. Sensing Ish-bosheth's weakness, two of his captains, Baanah and the other Recab, cospired to do away with him. Approaching his house on a hot afternoon when the king was napping, the stabbed him in the stomach and decapitated him, then made their escape. They then brought his head to David at Hebron, expected a reward. David promptly had the two king-killers put to death and buried Ish-bosheth's head with some degree of honor, in Abner's tomb. (2 Sam. 4).

The names

The names Ish-bosheth (used in 2 Samuel) and Ashba'al of Eshba'al (used in Chronicles) are unusual in some ways, as they have ambiguous meanings in the original Hebrew. "Ish" means "[great] man" and "boshet" means "[given to] bashfulness/humility]" or "[sensitive to] shame." However, it can also mean "shameful (or shamed) person." He is also called Ashba'al, in Hebrew. "Ba'al" here could mean "master," but could also refer to the Canaanite deity, Baal. Thus the name could be "[person of] master[y]," or it could refer to a "man of Ba'al." Archaeoligists have found that in Saul and David's time, "Ba'al" names were not uncommon in Israel.

Critical scholarship suggests that Bosheth is a substitute for Ba'al, when Ba'al became an unspeakable word. A similar but opposite principle applied when the word Adonai] (the Lord) was substited for the unspeaking name of the Hebrew God YHWH, or Yahweh.

External links

House of Saul Cadet Branch of the Tribe of Benjamin
Preceded by: Saul	King of Israel Albright: c.1000 B.C.E. Galil: c.1010 B.C.E. – 1008 B.C.E.	Succeeded by: David

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Ish-bosheth''' (also called '''Eshba'al''' or '''Ashba'al''' or '''Ishbaal'''), appears in the [[Hebrew Bible]]. He was one of the four sons of [[King Saul]], and was chosen as the second king over the united [[Kingdom of Israel]] after his father's and three brothers' deaths at the [[Battle of Mount Gilboa]].
-==His brief reign and death==
+==Biography==
 Ish-bosheth was proclaimed king over Israel by [[Abner]], the captain of Saul's army, at [[Mahanaim]] ([[Books of Samuel|2 Samuel]] 2:8), after his father and brothers were slain in the [[battle of Gilboa]] ([[s:Bible (World English)/1 Samuel#Chapter_31_1|''1 Samuel'' 31:1]]). Ish-bosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel for two years (''2 Samuel'' 2:10).
 Prior to this time, Saul's son Jonathan had been the hier apparent to the throne of Israel. However, he was slain along with his father at the battle of Gilboa. Meanwhile, Saul's former captain and estranged son-in-law, David, had established a following among the tribe of Judah and had allied himself with the Philistine king (NAME). Prior to the battle of Gilboa, David ended this alliance and now sought the kingship. Although Ish-bosheth was next in line by right of succession, David claimed divine authority on the basis of his being anointed by the prophet Samuel.
 A long civil war followed (2 Samuel 2:12). Ish-bosheth, who establish his capital at Mahanaim, supported by Saul's army under Abher. The Bible indicates that Ish-bosheth controled the larger terrority, including: "Gilead, Ashuri  and Jezreel, and also Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel." (2:9) David, meanwhile, reigned only over a single tribe, [[tribe of Judah|Judah]].
-The Bible relates few details about the war between David as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel.
+===Abner and Joab===
-David's faction eventually prevailed against Ish-bosheth's (2 Samuel 3:1), but the war did not come to a close until Abner joined David (2 Samuel 3:6). David's condition to return to him his wife [[Michal]] before peace could be made, was fulfilled by Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 3:14), 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 Bible relates few details about the war between David as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. A key element in the struggle was a blood feud between Ish-bosheth's general, Abner, and David's general, [[Joab]].
-Ish-bosheth was killed by two of his own captains (2 Samuel 4:5), who had expected a reward from David; he instead punished the murderers as traitors, and buried Ish-bosheth in the grave of Abner at [[Hebron]] (2 Samuel 4:12).
+In a moment of apparent peace between the two camps, Joab meets Abner, at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposes that their men engage in hand-to-hand combat. The fighting. involving 12 young warriors from each side, turns serious, with Joab's men gaining the upper hand. Joab's fleet-footed brother Asahel chases Abner. For fear of creating bad blood between his family and Joab's, Abner declines to engage Ashael. However, when Asahel refuses to give up the chase, Abner finally turns and slays him with a spear thrust. Joab's forces pursue Abner to exact vengeance, and the [[tribe of Benjamin]] rallies to Abner's defense. Abner offers a truce, and Joab accepts. The casualties among Joab's forces are counted at 19 missing, while the number of dead among Abner's allies is 360.
-==The names==
+===Abner's defection===
-The names ''Ish-bosheth'' and ''Ashba'al'' are unusual in some ways, as they have ambiguous meanings in the original [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] that are puzzling. In Hebrew, for ''Ish-bosheth'', "ish" means "[great] man" and "boshet" means "[given to] bashfulness [or humility]" or "[sensitive to] shame," but it could also mean "shameful (or shamed) person." He is also called ''Ashba'al'', in Hebrew meaning "[person of] master[y]" (and the "esh" may be connected to the Hebrew word for "fire"). "Ba'al" may also allude to the name of the ancient pagan idol [[Baal]] despised by God in the Bible.
+The struggle between David's forces and Ish-Bosheth's continued for several years. The Bible relates that during the course of events, "David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker." (2 Sam. 3:1) A major event in David's favor occurred when Abner turned traitor and went over to David's side after a scandal involving his alleged affair with a concubine of Ish-Bosheth's father, Saul (2 Sam. 3).
+Having strengthened his own position in Ish-bosheth's kingdom, Abner allegedly sought to increase his political position by taking posession of Saul's former concubine, Rizpah daughter of Aiah. When Ish-bosheth attempted to assert his own authority by accusing Abner of this crime, Abner did not deny it, but rebuffed Ish-bosheth, saying:
+::Am I a dog's head—-on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! (3:8)
+Fearing Abner's position as the veteran leader of the army, Ish-bosheth failed to act decisively in the matter, and Abner used the opportunity to send messengers to David offering to defect. "Make an agreement with me," Abner offered, "and I will help you bring all Israel over to you."
-Critical scholarship suggests that ''Bosheth'' is a substitute for ''Ba'al'', when Ba'al became an unspeakable word; as (in the opposite direction) [[Adonai]]] became substituted for the ineffable [[Tetragrammaton]].
+As proof of Abner's good faith and his ability to deliver, David demands that he bring with him Michal, the daughter of Saul, who had been David's first love and young wife, but had later been given by Saul to another man. The fearful Ish-Bosheth then foolishly allows both Michal and Abner to leave, giving orders that she be taken forcibly from her husband. A pitiful scene follows, in her husband, Paltiel son of Laish follows after her, "weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim," until the decisive Abner orders him to go home.
-===The name Ish-bosheth===
-He is almost exclusively called Ish-bosheth in the [[Books of Samuel]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]]:
-:"...Now Abner the son of [[Ner]], captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and he made him king over Gilead, and over the [[Ashurite]]s, and over [[Jezreel]], and over [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraim]], and over [[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjamin]], and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth, Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years..." [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08b02.htm] (2 Samuel 2:8-10)
+Abner comes then to David at his capital of Hebron, bringing not only Michal, but also 20 soldiers and a pledge of loyalty from the entire tribe of Benjamin, as well as elements of other northern tribes who have lost faith in Ish-Bosheth's leadership. David then dispatches Abner north to garner additional support for David's cause.
-When he was prematurely assassinated and King [[David]] punished the killers:
+However, David has not counted on the blood-vengeance of his own general, Joab. Learning of Abner's visit to Hebron, Joab immediately sends messengers to recall him. When Abner dutifully returns, Joab stabs him in the stomach and kills him, "to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel." No doubt he also senses in Abner a threat to his own position. David publicly declares himself innocent of the crime, cursing Joab's family and ordering him to publicly repent for the murder. However he does not demote Joab or otherwise punish him for his act.
-:"...[[Rechab]] and [[Baanah]], went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon, and they came into the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the groin; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped ...And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, and said to the king: 'Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed' ...And David answered ... '...shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?' ...But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron." [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08b04.htm] (2 Samuel 4:5-12)
+===Death===
-===The other name: Ashba'al===
+Still apparently believing that Abner was on Israel's side and not David's Ish-Bosheth, reportedly became greatly discouraged at the news of Abner's death. Sensing Ish-bosheth's weakness, two of his captains, Baanah and the other Recab, cospired to do away with him. Approaching his house on a hot afternoon when the king was napping, the stabbed him in the stomach and decapitated him, then made their escape. They then brought his head to David at Hebron, expected a reward. David promptly had the two king-killers put to death and buried Ish-bosheth's head with some degree of honor, in Abner's tomb. (2 Sam. 4).
-Ish-bosheth's name is changed to ''Ashba'al'' or ''Eshba'al'' (and not "Ish baal") in the [[Book of Chronicles]] (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39). The [[rabbinic]] commentator, Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael (1809-1879) known as the [[Malbim]], basing himself on the commentary of Rabbi David ben Joseph Kimhi (the [[Radak]], [[13th century]]) says:
-:"Ashba'al is Ish-bosheth, as ''bosheth'' and ''ba'al'' is one, as in the [[Book of Jeremiah]] :'...like the number of streets in Jerusalem have you made altars ''to the shameful'' ('''''la-bosheth''''') idol, altars to sacrifice to the ''Baal'' ('''''la-ba'al''''')'." [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1111.htm] (Jeremiah 11:13). Thus, "the shameful idol" ("bosheth") and the "Baal" are one and the same in terms of the words in this verse from Jeremiah.
+==The names==
+The names ''Ish-bosheth'' (used in 2 Samuel) and ''Ashba'al'' of Eshba'al (used in Chronicles) are unusual in some ways, as they have ambiguous meanings in the original [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]].  "Ish" means "[great] man" and "boshet" means "[given to] bashfulness/humility]" or "[sensitive to] shame." However, it can also mean "shameful (or shamed) person." He is also called ''Ashba'al'', in Hebrew. "Ba'al" here could mean "master," but could also refer to the Canaanite deity, [[Baal]].  Thus the name could be "[person of] master[y]," or it could refer to a "man of Ba'al." Archaeoligists have found that in Saul and David's time, "Ba'al" names were not uncommon in Israel.
-The Radak emphasizes that what the correlation was between the names of ''bosheth'' and ''ba'al'' is unclear, while it may have been clear to the people of that time it is not really known or understood at the present time. The Malbim asserts that the name Ish-bosheth is utilized as a "cover" for Ashba'al to deliberately differentiate itself from the Baal, so that the Baal not be mentioned explicitly, and that even the name Ashba'al not to be directly associated with the actual idol of the similar sounding Baal name, even though linguistically they all have shared meanings. Hence the continuing mystery about why the name was given to him (Ish-bosheth) in the first place.
+Critical scholarship suggests that ''Bosheth'' is a substitute for ''Ba'al'', when Ba'al became an unspeakable word. A similar but opposite principle applied when the word [[Adonai]]] (the Lord) was substited for the unspeaking name of the Hebrew God YHWH, or [[Yahweh]].
 ==External links==