Who was Ishbosheth?
"David and Jonathan," by Rembrandt. Jonathan is the figure in the turban. Hermitage News (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron , the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel ( 2 Samuel 5:3). David had a good legal claim to be Saul’s successor. Saul had repeatedly called him “my son” (1 Samuel 18:2; 24:11, 16; 26:17). Jonathan had adopted him by covenant as a brother equal to himself, and Jonathan was crown prince (18:3–4). Jonathan had yielded the throne to David by covenant (23:17–18). In addition David was Saul’s son-in-law (18:27). Yet, David was only 30 years old (2 Samuel 5:4), and there still lived an older son of Saul, Ishbosheth , who was about 40 years old (2 Samuel 2:10). While there was no precedent, inheritance to the throne was not automatic in Israel. The people had to vote and elect a man to be king, though the first candidate put forward ...