Ish-bosheth.

=toc Origin of Name. =

The name originally was Eshbaal, meaning probably "Baal exists."The name was reinterpreted as "man of Baal" and then pejorative 'bosheth' (shame) was substituded for Baal. He is made king of Israel for being the son of Saul. Nevertheless, he was a king just for name because Abner, who made Ish-bosheth the king of Israel, was the man with real power. [i

= = = The Assassination =

After Abner's death by Joab, there was no leader in northern Israel, and Bannah and Recab, the leaders of raiding bands, decided it is better for the nation if they get rid of anyone who prevents David from claiming the throne. They, without knowing what David had done with the Amalekite who brought the news of Saul's death to David, proudly presented the head of Ish-bosheth to David, only to meet their death for killing Saul's family. [ii

[i William McKane, //I & II Samuel: Introduction and Commentary// (London: S.C.M. Press, 1963), 189-91; Hans Wilhelm Hertzberg, //I & II Samuel, a Commentary// (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1964), 249. [ii Mary J Evans, //1 and 2 Samuel// (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000), 153-4; McKane, //I & II Samuel//, 197-9.

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