War Between the Houses of David and Saul(A)

Meanwhile, Abner(B) son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth(C) son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.(D) He made him king over Gilead,(E) Ashuri(F) and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.(G)

10 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. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.(H)

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Abner’s Rebellion and the Battle at Gibeon

Meanwhile, Ner’s son Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth[a] and brought him to Mahanaim. He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest of[b] Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judah’s lineage followed David. 11 The period of David’s kingship in Hebron lasted seven years and six months.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 2:8 MT means Shameful Man; cf. 1Chr 8:33, where he is named Esh-baal
  2. 2 Samuel 2:9 The Heb. lacks the rest of