Ish-bosheth

Ish-bosheth, also known as Eshbaal, was the fourth son of King Saul (1Ch.8.33, 9.39). After Saul's death, Abner, the commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth and made him king over Israel, while David reigned over Judah (2 Samuel 2:8–10). Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for two years.

During his reign, there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David (2 Samuel 3:1). Abner became angry with Ish-bosheth and defected to David (2 Samuel 3:8–21). Later, two of Ish-bosheth's captains, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated him while he was resting in his bed. They brought his head to David, hoping for a reward, but David had them executed for their crime (2 Samuel 4:5–12).

After Ish-bosheth's death, all the tribes of Israel came to David and acknowledged him as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1–3). The name "Ish-bosheth" means "man of shame," while "Eshbaal" means "man of Baal." The name change may reflect the biblical writer's perspective on the contrast between Ish-bosheth's weak rule and David's divinely appointed kingship.