8 11. Ish-bosheth set up by Abner as a rival to David<\/p>\n
8<\/strong>. Abner<\/em> ] Both by his relationship of first cousin to Saul (1Sa 14:50<\/span>, note), and by his office as commander of the army, Abner was marked out as the natural champion of Saul’s house.<\/p>\n took<\/em> ] Better, had taken.<\/strong> The historian goes back to relate events immediately succeeding the battle of Gilboa. Abner had escaped from the fatal field and carried Ish-bosheth with him across the Jordan, whither it would seem there was a general retreat, while the country west of the Jordan was abandoned to the Philistines (1Sa 31:7<\/span>).<\/p>\n Ish-bosheth<\/em> ] Saul’s fourth son, not previously mentioned, was a mere tool in the hands of Abner. His original name, as given in the genealogies in 1Ch 8:33<\/span>; 1Ch 9:39<\/span>, was Esh-baal (= man of Baal<\/em>), but this has been changed to Ish-bosheth (= man of shame<\/em>), to avoid the scandal of pronouncing the name of the false god Baal. Compare the substitution of Mephibosheth for Meribbaal (2Sa 4:4<\/span>; 1Ch 8:34<\/span>), and Jerubbesheth for Jerubbaal (2Sa 11:21<\/span>; Jdg 8:35<\/span>), and see Hos 9:10<\/span>; Jer 11:13<\/span>. There are indications that Esh-baal was the original reading here, and the change may have been made in books commonly read, while the original form was retained in the genealogy.<\/p>\n As regards the origin of the name, it is a question whether it was a relic of the old Baal worship, or whether baal<\/em> (=lord) was at one time used as a title of Jehovah until discredited by idolatry (Hos 2:16<\/span>).<\/p>\n to Mahanaim<\/em> ] Mahanaim (= two hosts<\/em>), “the spot consecrated by the presence of God in primeval times, where Jacob had divided his people into ‘two hosts,’ and had seen the ‘two hosts’ of the angelic vision” (Gen 32:2<\/span>; Gen 32:10<\/span>), was chosen by Abner as the capital of Ish-bosheth’s kingdom. Afterwards it became the retreat of David when he fled from Absalom (ch. 2Sa 17:24<\/span>), and at that time was a fortified town with walls and gates (ch. 2Sa 18:24<\/span>). It was situated on the frontier between Gad and Manasseh (Jos 13:26<\/span>; Jos 13:30<\/span>), but its exact position has not been identified with certainty. Canon Tristram places it at Mahneh<\/em>, a few miles E. of Jabesh-Gilead ( Land of Israel<\/em>, p. 474).<\/p>\n Mahanaim – <\/B>See Gen 32:2<\/span>. From 2Sa 2:12<\/span> it would seem to have been Ish-bosheths capital.<\/P><\/p>\n 2Sa 2:8<\/span><\/p>\n Ishbosheth.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Isbosheth and Abner<\/strong><\/p>\n Saul’s son was a poor, weak creature, who would never have thought of resisting David but for the stronger will behind him. To be weak is, in this world full of tempters, to drift into being wicked. We have to learn betimes to say No, and to stick to it. Moral weakness attracts tempters as surely as a camel fallen by the caravan track draws vultures from every corner of the sky. The fierce soldier who fought for his own hand while professing to be moved by loyalty to the dead king, may stand as a type of the self-deception with which we gloss over our ugliest selfishness with fine names, and for an instance of the madness which leads men to set themselves against God’s plans, and therefore to be dashed in pieces, as some slim barrier reared across the track of a train would be. To rush against the thick bosses of the Almighty’s buckler does no harm to the buckler, but kills the insane assailant. (A. Maclaren, D. D<\/em>.)<\/p>\n Verse 8<\/span>. Abner the son of Ner<\/B><\/I>] This man had long been one of the chief captains of Saul’s army, and commander-in-chief on several occasions; he was probably envious of David’s power, by whom he had often been out-generalled in the field.<\/P> <\/p>\n Partly out of envy and malice against David; and partly out of his own ambition and desire of rule, because he knew that Ish-bosheth would have only the name of king, whilst he had the power. <\/P> Ish-bosheth, <\/B>called also Esh-baal<\/I>, 1Ch 8:33<\/span>; 9:39<\/span>; it being usual with the Hebrews, instead of Baal, the name of false gods, to put Bosheth, which signifies shame<\/I>, or confusion<\/I>, or a shameful thing<\/I>; as appeareth by comparing Jdg 9:53<\/span>, with 2Sa 11:21<\/span>; and 2Sa 4:4<\/span>, with 1Ch 8:31<\/span>; and from Jer 3:21<\/span>; Hos 9:10<\/span>. <\/P> Mahanaim; <\/B>a place beyond Jordan, whither he carried him; partly to secure those brave and valiant men of Jabesh-gilead to himself; and principally because this place was most remote from David, and from the Philistines too; and therefore here he might recruit his forces with less disturbance than in other places. <\/P> <\/p>\n 8-17. Abner the son of Ner, captainof Saul’s host took Ish-bosheth<\/B>Here was the establishment of arival kingdom, which, however, would probably have had no existencebut for Abner. <\/P> Ish-bosheth<\/B>or”Esh-baal” (1Ch 8:33<\/span>;1Ch 9:39<\/span>). The Hebrews usuallychanged names ending with Baal into Bosheth (“shame”)(compare Jdg 9:53<\/span>; 2Sa 11:21<\/span>).This prince was so called from his imbecility. <\/P> Abner<\/B>was first cousinof Saul, commander of the forces, and held in high respect throughoutthe country. Loyalty to the house of his late master was mixed upwith opposition to David and views of personal ambition in hisoriginating this factious movement. He, too, was alive to theimportance of securing the eastern tribes; so, taking Ish-boshethacross the Jordan, he proclaimed him king at Mahanaim, a town on thenorth bank of the Jabbok, hallowed in patriarchal times by the divinepresence (Ge 32:2<\/span>). There herallied the tribes around the standard of the unfortunate son ofSaul.<\/P><\/p>\n But Abner, the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host<\/strong>,…. This man’s father, Ner, was Saul’s uncle, 1Sa 14:50<\/span>, and he was his own cousin, and being general of his army, a post he was willing to keep, might be the reasons for doing what he did, as follows:<\/p>\n took Ishbosheth the son of Saul<\/strong>; and who seems to be his only son left, except what he had by his concubine. This man’s name is Eshbaal in 1Ch 8:33<\/span>. Baal is the name of a shameful idol, and which was therefore sometimes called Bosheth, “shame”. See Ho 9:10<\/span>; wherefore such names of men, which had Baal in them, were changed for Besheth or Bosheth, as the names of Jerubbaal and Meribbaal, who were called Jerubbesheth and Mephibosheth. See Jud 8:35<\/span>; compared with<\/p>\n 2Sa 11:21<\/span>, and 2Sa 4:4<\/span> with 1Ch 8:34<\/span>. The latter of these, a son of Jonathan, bid fairest for the crown by lineal succession, but he being but five years of age, and lame, this man Abner judged fittest for his purpose; and though he knew it was the will of God, and he had sworn that David should be king, yet so blind and obstinate was his ambition, that he set up another against him:<\/p>\n and brought him over to Mahanaim<\/strong>; a city on the other side Jordan, in the tribe of Gad, on the border of the half tribe of Manasseh; see<\/p>\n Jos 13:26<\/span>; and hither Abner had Ishbosheth, partly to keep the men of Jabeshgilead in awe, to whom David had sent messengers, acquainting them with his being king of Judah, and prevent their joining with him; and partly that he might be at a proper distance both from the Philistines and from David, till he could form his measures, and gradually carry his point, as he did.<\/p>\n Promotion of Ishbosheth to be king over Israel.<\/em> – The account of this is attached to the foregoing in the form of an antithesis: “But Abner, the chief captain of Saul<\/em> (see at 1Sa 14:50<\/span>), had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and led him over to Mahanaim.”<\/em> Ishbosheth had probably been in the battle at Gilboa, and fled with Abner across the Jordan after the battle had been lost. Ishbosheth<\/em> (i.e., man of shame) was the fourth son of Saul (according to 1Ch 8:33<\/span>; 1Ch 9:39<\/span>): his proper name was Esh-baal<\/em> (i.e., fire of Baal, probably equivalent to destroyer of Baal). This name was afterwards changed into Ishbosheth, just as the name of the god Baal was also translated into Bosheth<\/em> (“shame,” Hos 9:10<\/span>; Jer 3:24<\/span>, etc.), and Jerubbaal changed into Jerubbosheth (see at Jdg 8:35<\/span>). Ewald<\/em> ‘s supposition, that bosheth <\/em> was originally employed in a good sense as well, like and (Gen 31:53<\/span>), cannot be sustained. Mahanaim<\/em> was on the eastern side of the Jordan, not far from the ford of Jabbok, and was an important place for the execution of Abner’s plans, partly from its historical associations (Gen 32:2-3<\/span>), and partly also from its situation. There he made Ishbosheth king “for Gilead,”<\/em> i.e., the whole of the land to the east of the Jordan (as in Num 32:29<\/span>; Jos 22:9<\/span>, etc.). “For the Ashurites:”<\/em> this reading is decidedly faulty, since we can no more suppose it to refer to Assyria (Asshur) than to the Arabian tribe of the Assurim (Gen 25:3<\/span>); but the true name cannot be discovered.<\/p>\n (Note: In the Septuagint we find or , an equally mistaken form. The Chaldee has “over the tribe of Asher,” which is also unsuitable, unless we include the whole of the northern portion of Canaan, including the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. But there is no proof that the name Asher<\/em> was ever extended to the territory of the three northern tribes. We should be rather disposed to agree with Bachienne, who supposes it to refer to the city of Asher (Jos 17:7<\/span>) and its territory, as this city was in the south-east of Jezreel, and Abner may possibly have conquered this district for Ishbosheth with Gilead as a base, before he ventured to dispute the government of Israel with the Philistines, if only we could discover any reason why the inhabitants (“ the Ashurites<\/em> ”) should be mentioned instead of the city Asher<\/em>, or if it were at all likely that one city should be introduced in the midst of a number of large districts. The Syriac and Vulgate have Geshuri<\/em>, and therefore seem to have read or conjectured ; and Thenius decides in favour of this, understanding the name Geshur<\/em> to refer to the most northerly portion of the land on both sides of the Jordan, from Mount Hermon to the Lake of Gennesareth (as in Deu 3:14<\/span>; Jos 12:5<\/span>; Jos 13:13<\/span>; 1Ch 2:23<\/span>). But no such usage of speech can be deduced from any of these passages, as Geshuri<\/em> is used there to denote the land of the Geshurites, on the north-east of Bashan, which had a king of its own in the time of David (see at 2Sa 3:3<\/span>), and which Abner would certainly never have thought of conquering.)<\/p>\n “And for Jezreel,”<\/em> i.e., not merely the city of that name, but the plain that was named after it (as in 1Sa 29:1<\/span>). “And for Ephraim, and Benjamin, and all<\/em> (the rest of) Israel,”<\/em> of course not including Judah, where David had already been acknowledged as king.<\/p>\n A Civil War in Israel.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/I><\/span><\/P> <\/TD> B. C.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> 1053.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P> <\/TD> <\/TR> <\/TABLE> 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth Saul’s son was<\/I> forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained<\/I> to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust<\/I> his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is<\/I> in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.<\/P> Here is, I. A rivalship between two kings–David, whom God made king, and Ishbosheth, whom Abner made king. One would have thought, when Saul was slain, and all his sons that had sense and spirit enough to take the field with him, David would come to the throne without any opposition, since all Israel knew, not only how he had signalized himself, but how manifestly God had designated him to it; but such a spirit of contradiction is there, in the devices of men, to the counsels of God, that such a weak and silly thing as Ishbosheth, who was not thought fit to go with his father to the battle, shall yet be thought fit to succeed him in the government, rather than David shall come peaceably to it. Herein David’s kingdom was typical of the Messiah’s, against which the heathens rage<\/I> and the rulers take counsel,<\/I>Psa 2:1<\/span>; Psa 2:2<\/span>. 1. Abner was the person who set up Ishbosheth in competition with David, perhaps in his zeal for the lineal succession (since they must have a king like the nations, in this<\/I> they must be like them, that the crown must descend from father to son), or rather in his affection to his own family and relations (for he was Saul’s uncle), and because he had no other way to secure to himself the post of honour he was in, as captain of the host. See how much mischief the pride and ambition of one man may be the occasion of. Ishbosheth would never have set up himself if Abner had not set him up, and made a tool of him to serve his own purposes. 2. Mahanaim, the place where he first made his claim, was on the other side Jordan, where it was thought David had the least interest, and being at a distance from his forces they might have time to strengthen themselves. But having set up his standard there, the unthinking people of all the tribes of Israel (that is, the generality of them) submitted to him (v.<\/I><\/span> 9<\/span>), and Judah only was entirely for David. This was a further trial of the faith of David in the promise of God, and of his patience, whether he could wait God’s time for the performance of that promise. 3. Some difficulty there is about the time of the continuance of this competition. David reigned about seven years over Judah only (v.<\/I><\/span> 11<\/span>), and yet (v.<\/I><\/span> 10<\/span>) Ishbosheth reigned over Israel but two years: before those two years, or after, or both, it was in general for the house of Saul (ch.<\/I><\/span> iii. 6<\/span>), and not any particular person of that house, that Abner declared. Or these two years he reigned before the war broke out (v.<\/I><\/span> 12<\/span>), which continued long, even the remaining five years, ch.<\/I><\/span> iii. 1<\/span>.<\/P> II. An encounter between their two armies.<\/P> 1. It does not appear that either side brought their whole force into the field, for the slaughter was but small, v.<\/I><\/span> 30, 31<\/span>. We may wonder, (1.) That the men of Judah did not appear and act more vigorously for David, to reduce all the nation into obedience to him; but, it is likely, David would not suffer them to act offensively, choosing rather to wait till the thing would do itself or rather till God would do it for him, without the effusion of Israelitish blood; for to him, as a type of Christ, that was very precious, Ps. lxxii. 14<\/span>. Even those that were his adversaries he looked upon as his subjects, and would treat them accordingly. (2.) That the men of Israel could in a manner stand neuter, and sit down tamely under Ishbosheth, for so many years, especially considering what characters many of the tribes displayed at this time (as we find, 1 Chron. xii. 23<\/span>, c.): Wise men, mighty men, men of valour, expert in war,<\/I> and not of double heart, and yet for seven years together, for aught that appears, most of them seemed indifferent in whose hand the public administration was. Divine Providence serves its own purposes by the stupidity of men at some times and the activity of the same persons at other times they are unlike themselves, and yet the motions of Providence are uniform.<\/P> 2. In this battle Abner was the aggressor. David sat still to see how the matter would fall, but the house of Saul, and Abner at the head of it, gave the challenge, and they went by the worst. Therefore go not forth hastily to strive,<\/I> nor be forward to begin quarrels, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,<\/I> Prov. xxv. 8<\/I><\/span>. A fool’s lips and hands enter into contention.<\/P> 3. The seat of the war was Gibeon. Abner chose it because it was in the lot of Benjamin, where Saul had the most friends; yet, since he offered battle, Joab, David’s general, would not decline it, but there joined issue with him, and met him by the pool of Gibeon,<\/I> v.<\/span> 13<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. David’s cause, being built upon God’s promise, feared not the disadvantages of the ground. The pool between them gave both sides time to deliberate.<\/P> 4. The engagement was at first proposed by Abner, and accepted by Joab, to be between twelve and twelve of a side. (1.) It should seem this trial of skill began in sport. Abner made the motion (v.<\/I><\/span> 14<\/span>): Let the young men arise and play before us,<\/I> as gladiators. Perhaps Saul had used his men to these barbarous pastimes, like a tyrant indeed, and Abner had learnt of him to make a jest of wounds and death and divert himself with the scenes of blood and horror. He meant, “Let them fight<\/I> before us,” when he said, “Let them play<\/I> before us.” Fools<\/I> thus make a mock at sin.<\/I> but he is unworthy the name of a man that can be thus prodigal of human blood, that can thus throw about firebrands, arrows, and death,<\/I> and say, Am not I in sport?<\/I>Pro 26:18<\/span>; Pro 26:19<\/span>. Joab, having been bred up under David, had so much wisdom as not to make such a proposal, yet had not resolution enough to resist and gainsay it when another made it; for he stood upon a point of honour, and thought it a blemish to his reputation to refuse a challenge, and therefore said, Let them arise;<\/I> not that he was fond of the sport, or expected that the duels would be decisive, but he would not be hectored by his antagonist. How many precious lives have thus been sacrificed to the caprices of proud men! Twelve of each side were accordingly called out as champions to enter the lists, a double jury of life and death, not of others’, but their own; and the champions on Abner’s side seem to have been most forward, for they took the field first (v.<\/I><\/span> 15<\/span>), having perhaps been bred up in a foolish ambition thus to serve the humour of their commander-in-chief. But, (2.) However it began, it ended in blood (v.<\/I><\/span> 16<\/span>): They thrust every man his sword into his fellow’s side<\/I> (spurred on by honour, not by enmity); so they fell down together,<\/I> that is, all the twenty-four were slain, such an equal match were they for one another, and so resolute, that neither side would either beg or give quarter; they did as it were by agreement (says Josephus<\/I>) dispatch one another with mutual wounds. Those that strike at other men’s lives often throw away their own and death only conquers and rides in triumph. The wonderful obstinacy of both sides was remembered in the name given to the place: Helkath-hazzurim<\/I>—the field of rocky men,<\/I> men that were not only strong in body, but of firm and unshaken constancy, that stirred not at the sight of death. Yet the stout-hearted were spoiled, and slept their sleep,<\/I> Ps. lxxvi. 5<\/I><\/span>. Poor honour for men to purchase at so vast an expense! Those that lose their lives for Christ shall find them.<\/P> 5. The whole army at length engaged, and Abner’s forces were routed, v.<\/I><\/span> 17<\/span>. The former was a drawn battle, in which all were killed on both sides, and therefore they must put it upon another trial, in which (as it often happens) those that gave the challenge went away with loss. David had God on his side; his side therefore was victorious.<\/P> <\/p>\n Opposed by Abner and Ish-bosheth, vs. 8-17<\/strong><\/p>\n David’s attempt to unify <\/em>the kingdom quickly was <\/em>not to be. Formidable opposition soon appeared through the leadership of Abner, who had been the captain of Saul’s host and also Saul’s near kinsman. He took Ish-bosheth, the surviving son of Saul, carried him across the Jordan to Mahanaim, in the tribe of Gad on the river Jabbok. Perhaps this was a maneuver to counteract the invitation of David to the men of Jabesh in the same tribe. Eventually Abner was able to gain the allegiance for Ish-bosheth of this eastern area, along with the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Benjamin in the west.<\/em><\/p>\n It appears that Abner was <\/em>some five years and better in getting all the northern tribes to acclaim Ish-bosheth. It is said that he became king at the age of forty and that he reigned over Israel for two years. However, David had reigned over Judah seven and a half years at the time of Ish-ish-bosheth’s’s death and David’s accession over all Israel (compare 2Sa ch. 4; 2Sa 5:1-3<\/span>). So Abner must have encountered considerable reluctance of the tribes with regard to making Ish-bosheth their king.<\/em><\/p>\n Ish-bosheth had not been prominent enough <\/em>to have been mentioned heretofore among Saul’s sons. It is quite evident that he was not a warrior like the other three. Even after becoming king he did not accompany his men in battle as did his father before him (see verse 12). It seems likely that Ish-bosheth was not physically strong and may even have been somewhat mentally incompetent (note 2Sa 3:6-11<\/span>; 2Sa 3:14-16<\/span>; 2Sa 4:1<\/span>; 2Sa 4:5-7<\/span>).<\/em><\/p>\n After consolidating Ish-bosheth over the north <\/em>Abner took to the field against David’s men, under the leadership of Joab, the son of David’s sister, Zeruiah. They came to face at Gibeon in the tribe of Benjamin, posting themselves on either side of a notable pool near that Hivite city. Here Abner proposed to Joab that they select twelve young men from each side and let them engage in hand-to-hand combat for the sport of the thing. Joab agreed and the young men engaged one another in a deadly serious encounter there by the pool. It resulted in the death of all twenty-four, each one having stabbed his opponent in the side with his sword. The site of this encounter gained a new name Helkath-Hazzurim, meaning “the field of strong men.” The armies then assaulted one another in a bloody battle, eventuating in the ‘defeat of Abner and the forces of Ish-bosheth and victory for Abner and the men of David.<\/em><\/p>\n CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n 2Sa. 2:8<\/span>. Took Ishbosheth.<\/strong> Rather had taken<\/em>. Ishbosheth had probably been in the battle of Gilboa, and fled with Abner across the Jordan after the battle had been lost. (Keil.)<\/em> Mahanaim,<\/strong> On the eastern side of the Jordan, north of the brook Jabbok (Gen. 32:2-3<\/span>). Ishbosheth or Esh-baal<\/strong> (see 1Ch. 8:33<\/span>). Literally son of Baal<\/em>. It seems probable that the name Baal<\/em> (lord) was in early times given to the God of Israel, and proper names were formed from it afterwards. When the worship of the false Baal was introduced into Israel the change into Bosheth<\/em>, or shame<\/em>, was made. Possibly this change was made by later editors and scribes, and the original form was retained in the Book of Chronicles because this book was less read than the prophetic historical books. (Transr. of Langes Commentary.)<\/em><\/p>\n 2Sa. 2:9<\/span>. Over,<\/strong> rather for<\/em>, etc. The use of this preposition seems to indicate that the title was assumed before the places named really became subject to Ishbosheth. Gilead,<\/strong> the whole of trans-Jordanic Israelitish territory. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n