Encyclopedia entry
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.
In the Bible
11
Verses where Ishbosheth is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 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 3:7
Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
- 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 me of wrongdoing with this woman!
+5 more verses naming Ishbosheth.
Scripture on Ishbosheth
3
Sources · Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.