IshBosheth - ishbō´sheth International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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(אישׁ־בּשׁת,
'īsh-bōsheth,
“man of shame”'
Ἰεσβοσθέ,
Iesbosthé):
Called
אשׁבּעל,
'eshba‛al,
“man of Baal” (1Ch 8:33),
and
ישׁוי,
yishwī,
“man of Yahweh” (?), perhaps for
אישׁיו,
'īsheyō
(1Sa 14:49).
Compare ESHBAAL and ISHVI (the King James Version “Ishui”). We probably
have the right meaning of the name in Eshbaal and Ishvi, the words Baal
and Yahweh being frequently interchanged. The change to Ish-bosheth,
“man of shame,” in 2 Samuel, where the story of his shameful murder is
related, may be better explained as reference to this (see MEPHIBOSHETH,
whose name was also changed from Merib-baal for similar reasons), than
to find here a suggestion of Baal-worship, but see HPN, 121,
where the change is explained as a correction of the scribes, in
consequence of prophetic protests. One of the sons of Saul ( 1Ch 8:33; 1Ch 9:39; 1Sa 14:49) who, when his father and brothers were slain in the battle of Gilboa (1Sa 31:1), was proclaimed king over Israel by Abner, the captain of Saul's host, at Mahanaim (2Sa 2:8). Ishbosheth was 40 years old at this time and reigned over Israel 2 years (2Sa 2:10). Judah, however, proclaimed David its king. The consequence was war (2Sa 2:12). The house of David prevailed against the house of Saul (2Sa 3:1), but the war did not come to a close until Abner, angry on account of the rebuke he suffered from Ish-Bosheth for his unlawful intimacy with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, joined David (2Sa 3:6). David's condition to return to him Michal, his wife before peace could be made, was fulfilled by Ish-Bosheth (2Sa 3:14 f), but it was not until after Abner's death that Ish-Bosheth seems to have given up hopes of retaining his power (2Sa 4:1). The shameful murder of Ish-Bosheth by his own captains is recorded in 2Sa 4:5. David punished the murderers who had expected reward and buried Ish-Bosheth in the grave of Abner at Hebron (2Sa 4:12 f).
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Taken from: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia by James Orr, M.A., D.D., General Editor |