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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Eshbaal</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/e/eshbaal.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/1_chronicles/8-33.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/e/eshbaal.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Eshbaal</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/e/eshan.htm" title="Eshan">◄</a> Eshbaal <a href="/topical/e/eshba'al.htm" title="Eshba'al">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Eshbaal, also known as Ish-bosheth, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, particularly in the narrative of the early monarchy of Israel. His account is primarily found in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Eshbaal was the son of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. His name, Eshbaal, means "man of Baal," which reflects the cultural and religious influences of the time. However, in the biblical narrative, he is more commonly referred to as Ish-bosheth, meaning "man of shame," possibly to avoid the association with the Canaanite deity Baal.<br><br><b>Biblical Account</b><br><br>After the death of Saul and his sons at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, Eshbaal was made king over Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul's army. This event is recorded in <a href="/2_samuel/2-8.htm">2 Samuel 2:8-10</a> : "Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, brought him over to Mahanaim, and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin—over all Israel. Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David."<br><br>Eshbaal's reign was marked by conflict and division within the kingdom. While he ruled over the northern tribes of Israel, David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah, leading to a prolonged civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David. This period of strife is detailed in <a href="/bsb/2_samuel/3.htm">2 Samuel 3</a>, where the power struggle between Abner and David is highlighted. Abner, initially a supporter of Eshbaal, eventually defected to David's side, recognizing that the LORD had chosen David to be king over all Israel.<br><br><b>Political Intrigue and Downfall</b><br><br>Eshbaal's reign was fraught with political intrigue and instability. His reliance on Abner for military and political support underscores his weak leadership. The turning point in Eshbaal's rule came when Abner was killed by Joab, David's military commander, as recounted in <a href="/2_samuel/3-27.htm">2 Samuel 3:27</a>. This event left Eshbaal vulnerable and without his primary supporter.<br><br>The final blow to Eshbaal's kingship came through betrayal. In <a href="/2_samuel/4-5.htm">2 Samuel 4:5-7</a> , two of his own captains, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated him while he was resting in his house: "Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday nap. They entered the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away."<br><br><b>Theological Significance</b><br><br>Eshbaal's account is a poignant reminder of the consequences of weak leadership and the dangers of political ambition. His reign serves as a backdrop to the rise of David, the man after God's own heart, and highlights the divine providence in the establishment of the Davidic dynasty. The narrative underscores the theme of God's sovereignty in choosing and establishing leaders according to His purposes.<br><br>Eshbaal's life and reign, though brief and tumultuous, are integral to understanding the transition from the house of Saul to the house of David, a pivotal moment in Israel's history that set the stage for the united monarchy under David and Solomon.<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Eshbaal</span><p>(<i>Baal's man</i>), (<a href="/1_chronicles/8-33.htm">1 Chronicles 8:33</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/9-39.htm">9:39</a>) the same as Ish-bosheth.<a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Eshbaal</span><p><a href="/context/1_chronicles/8-33.htm">1 Chronicles 8:33</a>, the fourth son of Saul, generally called Ishbosheth. The word <a href="../b/baal.htm">BAAL</a>, the name of an idol, was not pronounced by scrupulous Jews; they substituted <a href="../b/bosheth.htm">BOSHETH</a>, confusion. For Meribbaal, they said Mephibosheth, etc. See <a href="../i/ishbosheth.htm">ISHBOSHETH</a>. </p><a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Man of Baal, the fourth son of king Saul (<a href="/1_chronicles/8-33.htm">1 Chronicles 8:33</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/9-39.htm">9:39</a>). He is also called Ish-bosheth (q.v.), <a href="/2_samuel/2-8.htm">2 Samuel 2:8</a>. <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ESHBAAL</span><p>esh'-ba-al.<br><br>See <a href="../i/ish-bosheth.htm">ISH-BOSHETH</a>.<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/792.htm"><span class="l">792. <b>Eshbaal</b> -- "man of Baal," a son of Saul</span></a><br><b>...</b> 791, 792. <b>Eshbaal</b>. 793 . "man of Baal," a son of Saul. Transliteration: <b>Eshbaal</b><br> Phonetic Spelling: (esh-bah'-al) Short Definition: <b>Eshbaal</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/792.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/maclaren/the_life_of_david/ix_the_king.htm"><span class="l">The King.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> One of his grand-uncles was named Baal (1 Chronicles 9:36); his son was really called<br> <b>Eshbaal</b> (Fire of Baal), which was contemptuously converted into <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/e/eshbaal.htm"><span class="l"><b>Eshbaal</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 8. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>ESHBAAL</b>. esh'-ba-al. See ISH-BOSHETH.<br> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Eshbaal</b> (2 Occurrences). 1 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/eshbaal.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/i/ish-bosheth.htm"><span class="l">Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the only one<br> who survived him (2 Samuel 2-4). His name was originally <b>Eshbaal</b> (1 Chronicles 8 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/i/ish-bosheth.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/i/ishbosheth.htm"><span class="l">Ishbosheth (13 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the only one<br> who survived him (2 Samuel 2-4). His name was originally <b>Eshbaal</b> (1 Chronicles 8 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/i/ishbosheth.htm - 14k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/malki-shua.htm"><span class="l">Malki-shua (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (See NIV). 1 Chronicles 8:33 And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot<br> Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. (See NIV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/malki-shua.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/malchi-shua.htm"><span class="l">Malchi-shua (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (BBE WBS NAS). 1 Chronicles 8:33 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and<br> Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/malchi-shua.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/malchishua.htm"><span class="l">Malchishua (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 8:33 Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul<br> became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/malchishua.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/mal'chishu'a.htm"><span class="l">Mal'chishu'a (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (See RSV). 1 Chronicles 8:33 And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot<br> Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/mal'chishu'a.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abin'adab.htm"><span class="l">Abin'adab (10 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1 Chronicles 8:33 And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan,<br> and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abin'adab.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/k/kish.htm"><span class="l">Kish (18 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 8:33 Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul<br> became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/kish.htm - 15k</font><p><a href="/topical/n/ner.htm"><span class="l">Ner (17 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 8:33 Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul<br> became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and <b>Eshbaal</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/n/ner.htm - 13k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Eshbaal (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_chronicles/8-33.htm">1 Chronicles 8:33</a></span><br />Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and <span class="boldtext">Eshbaal</span>.<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NAS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_chronicles/9-39.htm">1 Chronicles 9:39</a></span><br />Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and <span class="boldtext">Eshbaal</span>.<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NAS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/e/eshbaal.htm">Eshbaal</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/esh-baal.htm">Esh-baal (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/ish-bosheth.htm">Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/ishbosheth.htm">Ishbosheth (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eshba'al.htm">Eshba'al (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/malki-shua.htm">Malki-shua (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/malchi-shua.htm">Malchi-shua (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/malchishua.htm">Malchishua (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/mal'chishu'a.htm">Mal'chishu'a (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abin'adab.htm">Abin'adab (10 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kish.htm">Kish (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/ner.htm">Ner (17 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abinadab.htm">Abinadab (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/begat.htm">Begat (112 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/names.htm">Names (133 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/joshebbasshebeth.htm">Joshebbasshebeth</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jerubbesheth.htm">Jerubbesheth (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/josheb-basshebeth.htm">Josheb-basshebeth (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eshan.htm">Eshan (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/esh-ba'al.htm">Esh-ba'al (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/meribbaal.htm">Meribbaal (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/merib-baal.htm">Merib-baal (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abner.htm">Abner (54 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/baal.htm">Baal (94 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David (1052 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jonathan.htm">Jonathan (109 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/ish.htm">Ish</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul (371 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (45911 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/e/eshan.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Eshan"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Eshan" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/e/eshba'al.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Eshba'al"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Eshba'al" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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