Keraia
2 Samuel 2

2 Samuel 2:9

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel · 2 Samuel 2:8–11
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Translations

Modern
…and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
Traditional
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Literal
And he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Latin
…regemque constituit super Galaad, et super Gessuri, et super Jezraël, et super Ephraim, et super Benjamin, et super Israël universum.

Original

Hebrew
English
…and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.

Notes

2 Samuel 2:9

Gilead was the easternmost district of the northern kingdom. Jezreel was the northernmost area, and Benjamin was the southernmost. Ephraim lay between them.

It is not clear where the land of the Ashurites was located. The phrase all Israel refers to the tribes that Ish-bosheth ruled over, not to the physical size or boundaries of his kingdom within Israel.

2 Samuel 2:1–32

After Saul died, those loyal to David (the tribe of Judah) came into conflict with those loyal to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth (the remaining tribes of Israel).

At this time, the Philistines controlled much of the land west of the Jordan River. They likely encouraged this division among the Israelites because a divided people were easier for them to control.

Theme notes and profiles

Abner David

Events

People

Asher: Son of Jacob and Zilpah, founder of the tribe of Asher Benjamin: Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Gilead: Mountainous region east of Jordan; tribal territory and personal name Jezreel: A city in Issachar, associated with Ahab and Jezebel

Glossary

Abner Ashurite Benjamin, Tribe of Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) City of David David David, City of Eshbaal Gilead (Place) History of Israel Ishbosheth Jezreel (Place) Joab Mahanaim Mephibosheth Samuel, Books of First and Second Valley of Jezreel

Topics

Abner: Loyalty of, to the House of Saul Armies: March in Ranks: Determine Royal Succession Ashurites: (Possibly Geshurites) Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Received Ish-Bosheth As King Hebron: A City of the Tribe of Judah, South of Jerusalem: David Crowned King of Judah At Ish-Bosheth: Made King by Abner Israel: Under the Kings Before the Separation Into Two Kingdoms: Ish-Bosheth Made King Jezreel: A City of the Tribe of Issachar Mahanaim: Ish-Bosheth Establishes Himself At, when Made King Over Israel Tribe of Benjamin: Adhered for a Time to the House of Saul Against David Tribe of Benjamin: Census of Loyal to Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul Tribe of Benjamin: Furnished the First King to Israel Tribe of Judah: Make David King