2 Samuel 2:8

_BUT ABNER THE SON OF NER, CAPTAIN OF SAUL'S HOST, TOOK ISHBOSHETH THE SON OF SAUL, AND BROUGHT HIM OVER TO MAHANAIM;_ Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth. Here was the establishment of a rival kingdom, which, however, would probably have had no existence but for Abner. "Ish-bosheth" - or Esh-baal (i:e., man of Baal), 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:39. The Hebrews usually changed names ending with Baal into Bosheth (shame): cf. Judges 9:53 with 2 Samuel 11:11. This prince, being not mentioned with the other sons of Saul ...

Verse 2 Samuel 2:8. _ABNER THE SON OF NER_] 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....

MAHANAIM - See Genesis 32:2. From 2 Samuel 2:12 it would seem to have been Ish-bosheth’s capital....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 2:1 UNTO HEBRON. As soon as David had assuaged his grief, his thoughts would naturally turn towards his country. Fuller news would reach him every day respecting the movements of the Philistines, who, after so decisive a victory, would quickly overrun all the central districts of Palestine, where the battle had been fought. And very bitter must David's feelings have been. Had he continued in Israel, he and his six hundred men would now have hastened to the rescue, and all the braver warriors of the land would have gathered round them. As it was, he was too entangled with the Philistines, and too much distrusted by the northern tribes, to be of much use. Still, we learn from 1 Chronicles 12:1; that brave men did continually

BUT ABNER, THE SON OF NER, CAPTAIN OF SAUL'S HOST,.... This man's father, Ner, was Saul's uncle, 1 Samuel 14:50, 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: TOOK ISHBOSHETH THE SON OF SAUL; and who seems to be his only son left, except what he had by his concubine. This man's name is Eshbaal in 1 Chronicles 8:33. Baal is the name of a shameful idol, and which was therefore sometimes called Bosheth, "shame". See Hosea 9:10; 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.

ABNER (_ See Scofield) - (Judges 8:1). _...

3. ABNER'S REVOLT AND THE WAR WHICH FOLLOWED CHAPTER 2:8-32 _ 1. Abner makes Ish-bosheth king over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8)_ 2. The defeat of Abner (2 Samuel 2:12) 3. Abner and Joab and Joab's victory (2 Samuel 2:18) God's king began his reign in quietness, and opposition and open revolt followed at once. Abner, who had been the captain of Saul's host, took a son of Saul by the name of Ish-bosheth and made him king in Gilead. The original name of this son was “Esh-baal,” which means “the fire of Baal” (1 Chronicles 8:33). “Ish-bosheth” was his other name; it means “man of shame.” He seem

2 SAMUEL 2-6. (J). APART FROM MINOR ADDITIONS AND CHANGES, IT IS VERY COMMONLY HELD THAT THESE CHAPTER S FORM A CONTINUOUS NARRATIVE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. 2 Samuel 2:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5. Civil War between David, ruling at Hebron, and Ish-bosheth, ruling at Mahanaim (J). 2 SAMUEL 2:1. David occupies Hebron (Judges 1:10 *, p. 31), and is anointed king by the men of Judah, doubtless with the consent of the Philistines, and as their vassal. He thanks the men of Jabesh-gilead for their loyalty to Saul. 2 SAMUEL 2:8. Abner makes

ISH-BOSHETH. man of shame: i.e. the idol " _Baal_ ". In 1 Chronicles 8:33. Esh-baal....

Ish-bosheth set up by Abner as a rival to David 8. _Abner_ Both by his relationship of first cousin to Saul (1 Samuel 14:50, note), and by his office as commander of the army, Abner was marked out as the natural champion of Saul's house. _took_ Better, HAD TAKEN. 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 (1 Samuel 31:7). _Ish-bosheth_ 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...