Ish-bosheth: Man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the
only one who survived him
(2 Samuel 2:1-4:12) His name was originally
Eshbaal
(1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39) He was about forty years of age when his
father and three brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. Through the
influence of Abner, Saul's cousin, he was acknowledged as successor to
the throne of Saul, and ruled over all Israel, except the tribe of
Judah (over whom David was king), for two years, having Mahanaim, on
the east of Jordan, as his capital
(2 Samuel 2:9) After a troubled and
uncertain reign he was murdered by his guard, who stabbed him while he
was asleep on his couch at mid-day
(2 Samuel 4:5-7) and having cut off
his head, presented it to David, who sternly rebuked them for this
cold-blooded murder, and ordered them to be immediately executed
(2 Samuel 4:9-12)
