2 Samuel 2:10 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.

2 Samuel 2:10 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.

2 Samuel 2:10 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.

2 Samuel 2:10 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.

2 Samuel 2:10 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.

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 10 Meaning

Second Samuel 2:10 describes the establishment of a rival kingship in Israel following the death of King Saul. It specifies that Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, at the age of forty, began to reign over the northern tribes of Israel, a reign that lasted for two years. This period is sharply contrasted by the steadfast allegiance of the tribe of Judah to David, who had been anointed king in Hebron. The verse highlights the fractured state of Israel, with two distinct political entities under two different leaders.

2 Samuel 2 10 Context

The historical context of 2 Samuel 2:10 is the immediate aftermath of Saul's death in battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31). This period marked a critical transition in Israelite history, where the established, yet divinely rejected, Saulide dynasty struggled against God's newly appointed leader, David. Chapter 2 opens with David seeking divine guidance before moving to Hebron, where the men of Judah immediately anoint him king over their tribe (2 Sam 2:1-4). Simultaneously, Abner, Saul's army commander and a powerful figure, moves to preserve the Saulide lineage. He takes Saul's remaining son, Ish-bosheth (also known as Eshbaal), across the Jordan to Mahanaim, installing him as king over the rest of Israel. This verse, 2 Samuel 2:10, formally introduces Ish-bosheth's reign, emphasizing its specific duration and the critical distinction between "Israel" (the northern tribes supporting Ish-bosheth) and "the house of Judah" (who followed David). This sets the stage for a period of civil war between the two houses (2 Sam 3:1), illustrating the deep tribal and political divisions that characterize this transitional phase before David's full unification of the kingdom.

2 Samuel 2 10 Word analysis

• Ish-bosheth: The Hebrew name is אִישׁ בֹּשֶׁת (’Ish-boshet), meaning "man of shame" or "man of disgrace." This is likely a deliberately altered name by later Israelite scribes or traditions. His original name was likely Eshbaal (אֶשְׁבַּעַל, Eshba‘al), meaning "man of Baal" or "fire of Baal," as found in 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 1 Chronicles 9:39. The change reflects a theological aversion to associating any leader, even a former king, with the pagan deity Baal. The adopted name fittingly describes his ineffective and inglorious rule.
• Saul’s son: Emphasizes his familial lineage to the previous king, establishing his claim to the throne in the eyes of his supporters, primarily Abner, based on dynastic succession. It also positions him as a continuation of Saul’s house, which God had already rejected.
• was forty years old: The number forty often symbolizes a complete generation, significant testing, or a period of maturity in biblical narratives. While often signifying readiness for leadership, here it paradoxically highlights the failure and short-lived nature of his reign despite being in his prime, indicating a lack of divine endorsement.
• when he began to reign: Marks the official start of his rule over "Israel," distinguishing this from David's anointing by Judah. This action was primarily instigated and supported by Abner.
• over Israel: This crucial phrase indicates the division. "Israel" here refers to the tribes other than Judah—specifically, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, and potentially others who sided with the remnants of Saul’s kingdom. It signifies the early political and geographical split of the Israelite tribes.
• and he reigned two years: This brief duration (compared to David’s overall 40-year reign) signifies the weakness, instability, and lack of divine legitimacy for Ish-bosheth's rule. His reign was not firm, likely interrupted, and overshadowed by Abner's influence and the ongoing war with David's house.
• But: This strong conjunction introduces a contrast, setting the short and ill-fated reign of Ish-bosheth against the divine movement concerning David and Judah. It emphasizes the split and the different allegiances.
• the house of Judah: This refers specifically to the tribe of Judah, David's ancestral tribe, and the land where God had chosen David to be anointed King. Their unity and immediate allegiance to David underline their spiritual discernment and loyalty to God's chosen leader.
• followed David: Means they acknowledged, swore allegiance to, and obeyed David as their rightful king. This loyalty reflects their recognition of God’s hand on David, differentiating them from the tribes under Ish-bosheth who clung to the rejected Saulide dynasty.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son...": This initial phrase establishes the counter-dynasty. It emphasizes Ish-bosheth's lineage as his primary claim to power, distinct from divine anointing, setting the stage for conflict.
• "...was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years.": This phrase juxtaposes Ish-bosheth's age of supposed maturity with the remarkably short and thus implicitly unsuccessful length of his rule. This points to the weakness and illegitimacy of his reign in God's eyes, regardless of human intentions. The geographical scope "over Israel" indicates his authority over the northern tribes only, not all twelve.
• "But the house of Judah followed David.": This climactic phrase underscores the fundamental division in Israel. The conjunction "But" signals a crucial contrast. It highlights Judah's unique allegiance to God’s anointed king, establishing a key distinction that defines the subsequent history and foreshadows David's eventual universal kingship. This group’s choice reflects adherence to the divine will versus clinging to human tradition or political maneuvering.

2 Samuel 2 10 Bonus section

• Political Puppet: Ish-bosheth’s rule was largely a puppet reign, entirely dependent on the military strength and political maneuvering of Abner. He moved Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim, a place of safety east of the Jordan, likely indicating a strategic retreat from the Philistine threat and a power base removed from David's growing influence in the south.
• Theology of Divine Appointment vs. Dynastic Succession: The narrative here implicitly argues against human-orchestrated dynastic succession when it runs counter to God's divine appointment. While Abner attempts to preserve Saul's line, God had already chosen David, making Ish-bosheth's kingship ultimately futile.
• Microcosm of Future Division: This initial tribal division between "Israel" and "Judah" serves as an early prototype for the more permanent split of the kingdom after the reign of Solomon, when the northern tribes would again break away, forming the kingdom of Israel, while Judah and Benjamin would remain the kingdom of Judah.

2 Samuel 2 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 2:10 is a pivotal verse, clearly delineating the fractured state of Israel following Saul's death. It presents two concurrent claims to the kingship: Ish-bosheth, representing the fading Saulide dynasty, supported by the strong hand of Abner and ruling over "Israel" (the northern tribes); and David, God's chosen one, reigning over "the house of Judah" from Hebron. Ish-bosheth's "two-year" reign stands in stark contrast to David’s extended and blessed reign. This short duration emphasizes the transient, weak, and ultimately illegitimate nature of his rule, demonstrating that no human effort could thwart God's sovereign plan to establish David’s kingdom. The mention of his "forty years" suggests an age of maturity, yet it served to highlight his ineffectual rule. The verse highlights God's particular blessing and leading concerning Judah, the tribe destined to bring forth the everlasting King, Jesus Christ. This early division sets the scene for the subsequent civil war, ultimately resolved by God's plan for David's universal kingship over all Israel.