Lives of Scripture

Ish-bosheth, Saul's remaining son, was made king over Israel by Abner following Saul's death at Gilboa, even as David was already reigning over Judah from Hebron, splitting the kingdom for roughly two years of conflict (2 Samuel 2:8-11). Ish-bosheth appears throughout as a weak figure, dependent entirely on Abner's military strength; when he confronted Abner over a relationship with one of Saul's concubines, Abner turned furiously on him and defected to David, stripping Ish-bosheth of his only real support (3:6-11). "He lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed" at the news of Abner's death, since his kingship had rested almost entirely on Abner's power rather than his own (4:1). Two of his own army captains, Baanah and Rechab, then took advantage of his weakness: they entered his house at midday while he napped, stabbed him in the stomach, beheaded him, and carried his head to David expecting reward, framing the murder as an act of loyalty to David's cause (4:5-8). David, however, had them executed for murdering an innocent man in his own bed, and had Ish-bosheth's head buried honorably in Abner's tomb (4:9-12). Ish-bosheth's short, largely powerless reign ended the rival royal line and cleared the way for David to be anointed king over all Israel.