2 samuel 2:9 - and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

Generated Verse: 2 samuel 2:9

What does "2 samuel 2:9" mean?


This verse from 2 Samuel 2:9 describes the extent of Ishbosheth's kingdom. After Saul's death, David was anointed king over Judah, but Abner, Saul's general, set up Saul's son Ishbosheth as king over the rest of Israel. The verse details the geographical areas Ishbosheth ruled:

Gilead: A region east of the Jordan River, known for its fertile land.
Ashurites: It's uncertain who the Ashurites were. Some scholars believe it refers to the Geshurites, a small Aramean kingdom in the Golan Heights, or possibly a scribal error.
Jezreel: A fertile valley and a strategically important location in northern Israel.
Ephraim: A prominent tribe and region in the central hill country of Israel.
Benjamin: The tribe to which Saul belonged; its territory was located between Judah and Ephraim.
All Israel: This emphasizes that Ishbosheth's claim was to rule over the entire nation of Israel, except for Judah, which had already declared David as king.

In summary, the verse means that Ishbosheth was proclaimed king over a significant portion of Israel, representing the northern and eastern regions, while David only controlled the southern kingdom of Judah. This sets the stage for a period of civil war between the house of Saul (represented by Ishbosheth) and the house of David.

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