2 Samuel 2:8-11
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Notice how Abner, acting as the true power broker, takes Ish-bosheth and brings him somewhere else. This isn't a king making a decision, but a general maneuvering to control the succession. Abner is placing his puppet on the throne, highlighting the fragility of Ish-bosheth's reign from its very inception.
But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, are killed in battle, David is waiting to be crowned king. While David is in exile, Saul's commander Abner decides to establish Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth, as king in the northern territory of Israel, setting up a rival kingdom to David's. This act ignites a prolonged civil war between David's supporters and Ish-bosheth's kingdom.
Why would Abner, the powerful commander of Saul's army, immediately place Ish-bosheth on a throne in Mahanaim?
A Commander's Choice
Abner wasn't just a soldier; he was the leader of Saul's military. When Saul and his sons died in battle (1 Samuel 31), a power vacuum emerged. Abner's decisive action in 'taking Ish-bosheth... and brought him over to Mahanaim' wasn't just moving a person; it was a political maneuver.
Mahanaim was a significant location, likely chosen for its strategic advantage and symbolic importance. By installing Ish-bosheth, the sole surviving son of Saul, Abner was attempting to maintain order and assert his own authority, positioning himself as the kingmaker. This move was designed to legitimize a new reign under his control, preventing further chaos and possibly keeping other factions at bay.
Who was Ish-bosheth, and why was he the one Abner chose to place on the throne?
A Son of Saul, A King in Name
Ish-bosheth is a figure largely defined by others. He was the youngest son of Saul, and critically, the only one left alive after the Philistine battle. Abner's choice to install him was a strategic move to leverage Saul's royal lineage.
However, Ish-bosheth's reign was precarious from the start. He was never truly a king in his own right, but rather a puppet king, controlled by Abner. His name itself is telling; 'Ish-bosheth' means 'man of shame,' possibly a later, derogatory renaming by those who opposed him, replacing his original name 'Ish-baal' ('man of Baal'). This suggests his reign lacked true legitimacy and inherent strength, relying entirely on Abner's military might and political maneuvering.
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Understand the original words
sar · Hebrew Noun
A person who exercises authority or military oversight; in the biblical context, it denotes a leader of forces or a high-ranking official within a kingdom's military structure.
malak · Hebrew Verb
To exercise authority or rule over a kingdom or people; it implies the administration of power and the sovereign governing of a state.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A monarch or supreme ruler of a people; in the Old Testament, the title is often associated with God's sovereignty over Israel, with human kings acting as His vice-regents under the covenant.
Chebrown · Hebrew Noun
A sacred city, often associated with inheritance, burial, or royal administration; in Hebraic thought, it represents a place of covenantal significance and authority.
Yehudah · Hebrew Noun
The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, representing the tribe through which the Davidic dynasty and eventually the Messiah would come; it signifies the messianic line.
This verse captures the immediate aftermath of King Saul's death, highlighting Abner's crucial move to secure a successor and maintain power for Saul's lineage, setting the stage for years of division and conflict before David's full ascension.
c. 1010 BC
Death of King Saul
King Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. This left a power vacuum in Israel.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David, who had been anointed king years earlier, was now recognized by the tribe of Judah and anointed king over them in Hebron.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Ish-bosheth Proclaimed King
Abner, Saul's powerful military commander, took Ish-bosheth, another son of Saul, and had him proclaimed king over the rest of Israel in Mahanaim.
c. 1009-1002 BC
Civil War in Israel
A prolonged conflict ensued between the house of David and the house of Ish-bosheth, with Abner leading Ish-bosheth's forces.
c. 1002 BC
Abner Defects to David
After a dispute with Ish-bosheth, Abner defected to David, bringing his support and seeking to unite all Israel under David's rule.
c. 1002 BC
Assassination of Abner
Joab, David's commander, assassinated Abner, an act that deeply grieved David and complicated the unification of Israel.
This passage shows Abner's long-standing loyalty and proximity to Saul's royal family, highlighting his significant position and authority within the house of Saul even before Ish-bosheth's ascension.
2 Samuel 3:1This verse directly follows the account of Ish-bosheth's reign and details the ongoing conflict between David's house and Saul's house, demonstrating the ripple effect of Abner's decision to install Ish-bosheth.
2 Samuel 4:5This shows the immediate aftermath and consequences of Abner's actions, as two commanders who served Ish-bosheth murdered him, illustrating the instability and vulnerability of the kingdom Abner established.
1 Kings 15:10This verse mentions Ish-bosheth in the lineage of kings, indirectly referencing his brief reign initiated by Abner and placing it within the larger historical context of the divided kingdom after Saul.
Notice how Abner, acting as the true power broker, takes Ish-bosheth and brings him somewhere else. This isn't a king making a decision, but a general maneuvering to control the succession. Abner is placing his puppet on the throne, highlighting the fragility of Ish-bosheth's reign from its very inception.
After King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, are killed in battle, David is waiting to be crowned king. While David is in exile, Saul's commander Abner decides to establish Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth, as king in the northern territory of Israel, setting up a rival kingdom to David's. This act ignites a prolonged civil war between David's supporters and Ish-bosheth's kingdom.
After King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, are killed in battle, David is waiting to be crowned king. While David is in exile, Saul's commander Abner decides to establish Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth, as king in the northern territory of Israel, setting up a rival kingdom to David's. This act ignites a prolonged civil war between David's supporters and Ish-bosheth's kingdom.
"But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-bosheth, Sau…" — Notice how Abner, acting as the true power broker, takes Ish-bosheth and brings him somewhere else. This isn't a king making a decision, but a general maneuvering to control the succession. Abner…
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Last reviewed October 2026
