Ish-bosheth

Ish-bosheth
Illustration from the Morgan Bible depicting the death of Ish-bosheth
King of Israel
Predecessor	Saul
Successor	David
House	House of Saul
Father	Saul

Ish-bosheth (Hebrew: אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת‎, romanized: ʼĪš-bōšeṯ, "man of shame"), also called Eshbaal (אֶשְׁבַּעַל‎, ’Ešba‘al; alternatively spelled Ishbaal, "man of Baal") was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the second monarch of the Kingdom of Israel. After the death of his father, Saul, Ish-bosheth ascended to the throne and reigned for two years.^[1]

During his reign, Ish-bosheth engaged in a protracted conflict with David, who had been anointed as Saul's successor by the Tribe of Judah. This rivalry between the two leaders shaped the political landscape of the kingdom at the time. The Hebrew Bible recounts that Ish-bosheth's reign was marked by war with David's forces, as both factions vied for control and legitimacy. According to biblical accounts, he was killed by two of his own army captains, Baanah and Rechab, who believed that assassinating Ish-bosheth would earn them favour with David. This act not only brought a premature conclusion to Ish-bosheth's rule but also played a significant role in the subsequent unification of the kingdom under David's leadership.