2 Samuel 2:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.

NASB: Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

CSB: Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel; he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.

NLT: Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.

KJV: Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

NKJV: Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.

Abner, the commander of Saul's army, has declared Saul's son Ish-bosheth to be king over Israel. His act is certainly lawful and traditional, but it's not God's word. God had declared that He would tear the nation from Saul's grasp and give it to his neighbor (1 Samuel 15:27–28). David is that neighbor (1 Samuel 16:11–13). Abner doesn't have God's blessing in his choice; he uses tradition and his own power and influence to make Ish-bosheth king (2 Samuel 2:8–9).

Still, the historical record of the book of 2 Samuel recognizes Ish-bosheth as the legitimate king over Israel for the span of two years, beginning when he was forty years old. The text is clear to distinguish between the nation of Israel, to the north, and the house of Judah to the south. Judah recognized only David as king and followed him. The rest of Israel either backed Saul's son or simply had no voice in the matter of who would rule over them.

Abner will spend those two years fighting against David and attempting to add Judah to Ish-bosheth's territory. In that time, God will increase David's power and make Israel increasingly weaker (2 Samuel 3:1). Abner, ironically, will gain power in the failing kingdom. It seems he'll make a half-hearted attempt to rule Israel but decide it's not worth it. Instead, he'll betray Ish-bosheth and deliver Israel to David (2 Samuel 3:6–21).

Second Samuel 2:8–11 records when Abner made Ish-bosheth king. Saul and Jonathan are dead (1 Samuel 31:1–4). The men of Judah have made David king of their tribe (2 Samuel 2:1–4). Now Abner, Saul's cousin and army commander (1 Samuel 14:50), takes Saul's son Ish-bosheth and makes him king over the rest of Israel. Abner will fight David's forces for two years before he realizes he can't win. He switches to David's side and convinces Israel to follow David before both he and Ish-bosheth are murdered (2 Samuel 2:12—4:12).

David returns to Israel, where he is anointed king over Judah, and settles in Hebron. Abner declares Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over Israel. David blesses the men of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul's remains. Abner, leading Ish-bosheth's men, faces off against Joab, leading David's fighters, at Gibeon. In a fierce, one-sided battle, Abner kills Joab's brother, but David's men overwhelm Abner's Benjaminite fighters, losing twenty but killing 360. Abner and the survivors prepare for a last stand on the hill of Ammah, but Joab calls off the battle when Abner pleads with him to stop. Both sides return home.

Saul and three of his sons are dead (1 Samuel 31:1–4). David becomes king of Judah, and Saul's son Ish-bosheth is king of the remaining tribes. When the two sides meet in battle, Ish-bosheth's army fares poorly. David continues to grow stronger over two years of fighting. Ish-bosheth's general Abner appears to make a futile attempt to take the crown from his king, then starts the work to peacefully hand David the crown of Israel (2 Samuel 3:1–12).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.