Difference between revisions of "Ish-bosheth" - New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:Ishbosheth-men-David's men.jpg|thumb|200px|Ish-bosheth's men under Abner battle Davi'd forces under Joab.]] | [[Image:Ishbosheth-men-David's men.jpg|thumb|200px|Ish-bosheth's men under Abner battle Davi'd forces under Joab.]] | ||
| − | 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 | + | Not the first in line to Saul's throne, 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 Saul was killed at the [[battle of Gilboa]] (1 Samuel 31:1) along with his other sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. According to one biblical verse Ish-bosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel for two years (''2 Samuel'' 2:10). However 2 Samuel 3:1 indicates a protracted struggle. Scholars believe Ishbosheth may have been younger than 40, and that he probably reigned for closer to seven years.<ref>Weavers, John Willaim, "The Second Book of Samuel," in the ''Interpreters' One-Volume Commentary on the Bible'', 1971.</ref> |
| − | Prior | + | Prior Ish-bosheth's reign, Saul's son Jonathan had been the hier apparent to the throne of Israel. Meanwhile, while Ish-bosheth and Abner consolidated support in the north, Saul's former captain and estranged son-in-law, [[David]], had established a following among the [[tribe of Judah]]. Formerly allied with the [[Philistines]], David ended this alliance and now sought the kingship of Israel, setting up his capital in [[Hebron]]. 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 | + | A long civil war followed. Ish-bosheth established his capital at Mahanaim. <ref>Exact location unknown, but situated east of the Jordan in the area of [[Gilead]].</ref> The Bible indicates thahe 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]]. <ref> The degree of control by either king over these terrorities is disputed. The Philistines were still dominant in much of the area west of the Jordan, and the cohesion of the northern tirbes under Ish-bosheth's ineffecutal rule could not have been strong.</ref> |
===Abner and Joab=== | ===Abner and Joab=== | ||
| − | The Bible relates few details about the war between David as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. | + | The Bible relates few details about the war between [[David]] as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. However, a key element in the struggle was clearly 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 | + | In a moment of apparent peace between the two camps, Joab met Abner, at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposed that their younger warriors engage in apparently friendly hand-to-hand combat. The fighting involving 12 young men from each side, quickly turned serious, with Joab's men gaining the upper hand. Joab's fleet-footed brother Asahel chased Abner. Abner twice declined to engage Ashael. However, when Asahel stubborn refused to give up the chase, Abner finally turned and killed him with a blunted spear thrust. Joab's forces then pursued Abner to exact vengeance, and the [[tribe of Benjamin]] rallied to Abner's defense. After considerable bloodshed, Abner offered a truce, and Joab accepted. The casualties among Joab's forces were counted at 19 missing, while the number of dead among Abner's allies is 360.<ref>The scope of this battle, while not nearly so impressive as other warfare described in the Bible, may be typical of the historical tribal warfare that characterized this period of Israel's history.</ref> |
===Abner's defection=== | ===Abner's defection=== | ||
| − | The struggle between David's forces and Ish-Bosheth's continued for | + | The struggle between [[David]]'s forces and Ish-Bosheth's continued for "a long time." 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 unfavorable event for Ish-bosheth occurred when Abner turned traitor and went over to David's side after a scandal involving Abner's alleged affair with a concubine of Ish-Bosheth's father, [[Saul]] (2 Sam. 3). |
| − | Having | + | Having consolidated his own position in Ish-bosheth's kingdom, Abner allegedly sought to strengthen 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) | ::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) | ||
[[Image:David-abner.jpg|thumb|250px|Abner leaves David with treacherous orders.]] | [[Image:David-abner.jpg|thumb|250px|Abner leaves David with treacherous orders.]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | 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." (3:12) | |
| − | Abner | + | As proof of Abner's good faith and his ability to deliver, David demanded 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. Apparently thinking Abner was arranging a peace agreement with David, the fearful Ish-Bosheth foolishly allowed both Michal and Abner to leave, giving orders that she be taken forcibly from her husband. In a truly pitiful scene, Michal's husband, Paltiel son of Laish, followed the delegation, "weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim," until the decisive Abner ordered him to go home. |
| − | However, David | + | Abner then reported to David at his capital of Hebron, bringing not only Michal, but also 20 soldiers and a pledge of loyalty Saul's [[tribe of Benjamin]], as well as elements of other northern tribes who had lost faith in Ish-Bosheth's leadership. David then dispatched Abner north to garner additional support for David's cause. |
| + | |||
| + | However, David had not counted on the craftiness of his own general, Joab. Learning of Abner's visit to Hebron, Joab immediately sent messengers to recall him. When Abner dutifully returned, Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him, "to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel," although there can be little doubt that Joab also sensed in Abner a threat to his own position. David publicly declared himself innocent of the crime, cursing Joab's family and ordering him to repent publicly for the murder. However David did not demote Joab or otherwise punish him for his act. | ||
===Death=== | ===Death=== | ||
| − | Still apparently believing that Abner was on Israel's side and not David's Ish-bosheth | + | 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. [[Image:David-mephi-bosheth.jpg|thumb|200px|David receives the obeisance of Ish-bosheth's nephew, Mephi-bosheth.]] Sensing Ish-bosheth's weakness, two of his captains, Baanah and Recab, cospired to do away with him. Approaching his house on a hot afternoon when the king was napping, they stabbed him in the stomach and decapitated him, then made their escape. They next brought his head to David at Hebron, expecting a reward. Davidnot at all impressed by men who would kill their own king, promptly had the assassins put to death and then buried Ish-bosheth's head with some degree of honor, in Abner's tomb(2 Sam. 4). |
| − | The royal house of Saul came to an end with Ish-bosheth's death. However, his nehew Mephi-bosheth, a son of Jonathan, survived him. | + | The royal house of [[Saul]] came to an end with Ish-bosheth's death. However, his nehew [[Mephi-bosheth]], a son of [[Jonathan]], survived him. Once his kingdom had been consolidated, David brought Mephi-bosheth to Jerusalem, ostensibly to "show kindness" to Saul's line, but no doubt also to prevent Mephi-bosheth from become a rallying point for nothern tribes opposed to Judah's dominance. |
==The names== | ==The names== | ||
Revision as of 00:50, 10 May 2007
Ish-bosheth (also called Eshba'al or Ashba'al or Ishbaal), was the second king of Israel, succeeding his father Saul after his death at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. He reigned for several years from the city of Mahanaim the late eleventh century B.C.E., facing a civil war led by the future king David and his powerful general Joab.
After years of waning effectivity, Ish-bosheth lost the loyalty of his own military chief, Abner, who went secretly over to David's cause after being accused by Ish-bosheth of sleeping with one of Saul's concubines. In the process of mobilizing support for David's cause, however, Abner was slain by his rival, Joab. The politically and militarily weakened Ish-bosheth was soon assassinated by two of his own captains. He left no known heirs, and the apparent heir to the throne, Ish-bosheth's newphew Mephi-bosheth, was eventually placed under life-long house arrest in Jerusalem by King David.
Biography
Not the first in line to Saul's throne, Ish-bosheth was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's army, at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8), after Saul was killed at the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1) along with his other sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. According to one biblical verse Ish-bosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel for two years (2 Samuel 2:10). However 2 Samuel 3:1 indicates a protracted struggle. Scholars believe Ishbosheth may have been younger than 40, and that he probably reigned for closer to seven years.[1]
Prior Ish-bosheth's reign, Saul's son Jonathan had been the hier apparent to the throne of Israel. Meanwhile, while Ish-bosheth and Abner consolidated support in the north, Saul's former captain and estranged son-in-law, David, had established a following among the tribe of Judah. Formerly allied with the Philistines, David ended this alliance and now sought the kingship of Israel, setting up his capital in Hebron. 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. Ish-bosheth established his capital at Mahanaim. [2] The Bible indicates thahe 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. [3]
Abner and Joab
The Bible relates few details about the war between David as king of Judah and Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. However, a key element in the struggle was clearly 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 met Abner, at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposed that their younger warriors engage in apparently friendly hand-to-hand combat. The fighting involving 12 young men from each side, quickly turned serious, with Joab's men gaining the upper hand. Joab's fleet-footed brother Asahel chased Abner. Abner twice declined to engage Ashael. However, when Asahel stubborn refused to give up the chase, Abner finally turned and killed him with a blunted spear thrust. Joab's forces then pursued Abner to exact vengeance, and the tribe of Benjamin rallied to Abner's defense. After considerable bloodshed, Abner offered a truce, and Joab accepted. The casualties among Joab's forces were counted at 19 missing, while the number of dead among Abner's allies is 360.[4]
Abner's defection
The struggle between David's forces and Ish-Bosheth's continued for "a long time." 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 unfavorable event for Ish-bosheth occurred when Abner turned traitor and went over to David's side after a scandal involving Abner's alleged affair with a concubine of Ish-Bosheth's father, Saul (2 Sam. 3).
Having consolidated his own position in Ish-bosheth's kingdom, Abner allegedly sought to strengthen 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." (3:12)
As proof of Abner's good faith and his ability to deliver, David demanded 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. Apparently thinking Abner was arranging a peace agreement with David, the fearful Ish-Bosheth foolishly allowed both Michal and Abner to leave, giving orders that she be taken forcibly from her husband. In a truly pitiful scene, Michal's husband, Paltiel son of Laish, followed the delegation, "weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim," until the decisive Abner ordered him to go home.
Abner then reported to David at his capital of Hebron, bringing not only Michal, but also 20 soldiers and a pledge of loyalty Saul's tribe of Benjamin, as well as elements of other northern tribes who had lost faith in Ish-Bosheth's leadership. David then dispatched Abner north to garner additional support for David's cause.
However, David had not counted on the craftiness of his own general, Joab. Learning of Abner's visit to Hebron, Joab immediately sent messengers to recall him. When Abner dutifully returned, Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him, "to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel," although there can be little doubt that Joab also sensed in Abner a threat to his own position. David publicly declared himself innocent of the crime, cursing Joab's family and ordering him to repent publicly for the murder. However David did 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 Recab, cospired to do away with him. Approaching his house on a hot afternoon when the king was napping, they stabbed him in the stomach and decapitated him, then made their escape. They next brought his head to David at Hebron, expecting a reward. Davidnot at all impressed by men who would kill their own king, promptly had the assassins put to death and then buried Ish-bosheth's head with some degree of honor, in Abner's tomb(2 Sam. 4).
The royal house of Saul came to an end with Ish-bosheth's death. However, his nehew Mephi-bosheth, a son of Jonathan, survived him. Once his kingdom had been consolidated, David brought Mephi-bosheth to Jerusalem, ostensibly to "show kindness" to Saul's line, but no doubt also to prevent Mephi-bosheth from become a rallying point for nothern tribes opposed to Judah's dominance.
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
- Ish-bosheth (Article by: Emil G. Hirsch and M. Seligsohn in Jewish Encyclopedia)
- King Ishbosheth - Biography (Christian view)
- Easton's Bible Dictionary (Ish-bosheth)
| 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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- ↑ Weavers, John Willaim, "The Second Book of Samuel," in the Interpreters' One-Volume Commentary on the Bible, 1971.
- ↑ Exact location unknown, but situated east of the Jordan in the area of Gilead.
- ↑ The degree of control by either king over these terrorities is disputed. The Philistines were still dominant in much of the area west of the Jordan, and the cohesion of the northern tirbes under Ish-bosheth's ineffecutal rule could not have been strong.
- ↑ The scope of this battle, while not nearly so impressive as other warfare described in the Bible, may be typical of the historical tribal warfare that characterized this period of Israel's history.
