2 Samuel 2:9

KJV

And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

And made him king {H4427} over Gilead {H1568}, and over the Ashurites {H805}, and over Jezreel {H3157}, and over Ephraim {H669}, and over Benjamin {H1144}, and over all Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and made him king over Gil'ad, the Ashuri, Yizre'el, Efrayim, Binyamin and all Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following the tragic deaths of King Saul and his sons, 2 Samuel 2:9 describes Abner, Saul's army commander, establishing Ish-bosheth, Saul's surviving son, as king over a significant portion of Israel. This strategic move effectively divided the kingdom, with Ish-bosheth ruling over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, while David had already been anointed king over Judah. This act initiated a period of civil war, highlighting the tension between human political maneuvering and God's sovereign plan for David to rule all Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows David's anointing as king over the tribe of Judah in Hebron, a move that came after a period of mourning for Saul and Jonathan. The preceding chapters of 1 Samuel detail Saul's rejection by God and David's anointing by Samuel, setting the stage for a divinely appointed successor. However, with Saul's death, a power vacuum emerged. While David was consolidating his rule in the south, Abner, a loyal general to Saul's house, took the initiative to preserve the Saulide dynasty by installing Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as a rival king. This act directly sets up the "long war between the house of Saul and the house of David" as explicitly stated in [2 Samuel 3:1](/2_samuel/3-1 "2 Samuel 3:1 - The Long War Between the House of Saul and the House of David"), making 2 Samuel 2:9 a pivotal verse in understanding the immediate political landscape of post-Saul Israel.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period immediately after a king's death was often fraught with political instability and succession struggles in the ancient Near East. Loyalty to a deceased king's house was a strong cultural norm, especially among military leaders like Abner. The territories listed—Gilead (east of the Jordan), Jezreel (a vital northern valley), Ephraim (a powerful central tribe), and Benjamin (Saul's own tribe)—represent key strategic and demographic regions of northern and central Israel. The "Ashurites" are debated, possibly referring to the tribe of Asher or a specific northern clan/territory, but in either case, they underscore the breadth of Abner's influence. Abner's actions were a calculated effort to maintain a unified front against David and to secure his own position within the remnants of Saul's kingdom, reflecting the tribal divisions and political rivalries inherent in early Israelite society.

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme emerging from this verse is the **Divided Kingdom** and **Contested Authority**. Despite God's clear anointing of David as king over all Israel (as seen in [1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - Samuel Anoints David")), human agents like Abner sought to thwart or delay this divine plan by establishing a rival monarch. This highlights the tension between **Divine Sovereignty and Human Resistance**. The verse also introduces the theme of **Political Maneuvering**, as Abner's actions are presented as a strategic effort to consolidate power and prevent David from easily assuming control over all Israel. This sets the stage for a prolonged civil conflict, underscoring the human tendency to cling to established power structures even when God's will has clearly shifted, a theme echoed in the later division of the kingdom after [Solomon's reign](/1_kings/12 "1 Kings 12 - The Division of the Kingdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ashurites (Hebrew, _'ashuri'_):** This term has been a subject of scholarly debate. Some interpret it as referring to the tribe of Asher, suggesting Abner's influence extended to the northern coastal plain. Others propose it refers to a specific clan or territory, possibly a family group or a region within the northern kingdom, perhaps related to Beth-shan or the Jezreel Valley. Regardless of the precise identification, its inclusion signifies a non-Judahite territory under Ish-bosheth's nominal control, emphasizing the geographical extent of his claimed dominion.
* **King (Hebrew, _melek'_):** The term "king" here describes a position of authority, but in this context, it is a kingship established by human initiative (Abner) rather than direct divine appointment, unlike David's anointing. This distinction is crucial, as it underscores the illegitimate nature of Ish-bosheth's rule in the eyes of God's overarching plan, even though it held political reality for a time.
* **All Israel (Hebrew, _kol yisra'el'_):** This phrase represents the ambitious claim made by Abner on behalf of Ish-bosheth. However, it is an overstatement, as David had already been made king over Judah. The inclusion of "all Israel" highlights the aspirational, yet contested, nature of Ish-bosheth's reign, setting up the direct conflict with David's burgeoning kingdom in the south.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And made him king over Gilead":** This clause indicates Abner's immediate action to establish Ish-bosheth's rule, beginning with the Transjordanian territory of Gilead. This region, east of the Jordan River, was strategically important and often served as a refuge or base for operations.
* **"and over the Ashurites":** This phrase extends Ish-bosheth's claimed dominion to a northern region, whether a specific clan or the tribe of Asher, showing Abner's efforts to consolidate power across diverse territories.
* **"and over Jezreel":** The inclusion of Jezreel signifies control over the fertile and militarily significant Jezreel Valley, a key northern area that was often a battleground.
* **"and over Ephraim":** Ephraim was one of the most prominent and powerful northern tribes, indicating that Ish-bosheth's rule encompassed a substantial and influential portion of the northern kingdom.
* **"and over Benjamin":** Benjamin was Saul's own tribe and geographically close to Judah. Its inclusion shows Abner's success in retaining the loyalty of Saul's tribal base, providing a strategic buffer against David's kingdom in the south.
* **"and over all Israel":** This concluding phrase represents the sweeping claim of Ish-bosheth's reign, asserting his authority over the entirety of the Israelite nation. However, this claim is immediately contradicted by the reality of David's kingship over Judah, setting the stage for the civil war.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Enumeration**, listing the specific territories over which Ish-bosheth was made king: Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. This detailed list serves to emphasize the geographical breadth of Abner's political maneuvering and the extent of the immediate division within Israel. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between this partial, humanly established kingship and the divinely appointed, yet currently limited, kingship of David over Judah. The concluding phrase, "and over all Israel," can be seen as an instance of **Hyperbole** or **Irony**, as it asserts a comprehensive rule that is demonstrably false given David's existing authority over Judah. This overstatement **Foreshadows** the inevitable conflict and the ultimate failure of Ish-bosheth's reign, as God's will for David to rule all Israel would eventually prevail.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage powerfully illustrates the tension between God's sovereign plan and human attempts to resist or manipulate it. While God had clearly chosen and anointed David as king, Abner's actions demonstrate a human desire to maintain established power structures and dynastic loyalty, even if it meant defying divine appointment. This period of a divided kingdom, with two rival kings, underscores the reality that God often allows human free will and political machinations to play out, yet His ultimate purposes will not be thwarted. The narrative invites reflection on patience and trust in God's timing, as David, despite being God's anointed, had to wait and endure a period of civil strife before fully inheriting the kingdom promised to him.

* [1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - Samuel Anoints David")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalm/33-10 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")
* [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - Many Are the Plans in a Person's Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Ish-bosheth's kingship, though short-lived and ultimately unsuccessful, offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that human plans and political machinations, no matter how strategically sound or well-intentioned from a worldly perspective, are ultimately subservient to God's sovereign will. In our own lives, we may face situations where our circumstances seem to contradict God's promises, or where human opposition appears to delay the fulfillment of His purposes. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering faithfulness. Like David, who patiently waited for God to establish his reign over all Israel, we are called to persevere in faith, knowing that divine purpose will be fulfilled, despite apparent setbacks or divisions. It challenges us to examine where we might be tempted to rely on our own strength or cleverness rather than submitting to God's ultimate authority and patiently waiting for His hand to move.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we discern God's will when human plans and political realities seem to contradict it?**
* **What lessons can we learn about patience and trust from David's response to this divided kingdom and the delay in his full anointing?**
* **In what areas of our lives might we be tempted to pursue our own "kingdoms" or agendas rather than submitting to God's sovereign rule and timing?**

### FAQ

**Who was Ish-bosheth, and why was he made king?**

Answer: Ish-bosheth was one of King Saul's surviving sons. After Saul's death, his army commander, Abner, took the initiative to establish Ish-bosheth as king over the northern tribes of Israel. This was a strategic move by Abner to preserve the legacy and dynasty of Saul's house and to counter David's growing influence, who had already been made king over Judah in [2 Samuel 2:4](/2_samuel/2-4 "2 Samuel 2:4 - David Anointed King Over Judah").

**What is the significance of the "Ashurites" mentioned in the verse?**

Answer: The precise identity of the "Ashurites" (or "Ashuri") is debated among scholars. Some believe it refers to the tribe of Asher, indicating that Abner's influence extended to the northern coastal plain. Others suggest it refers to a specific clan or territory within the northern region, perhaps a family group or a specific administrative district. Regardless, its inclusion signifies a non-Judahite territory under Ish-bosheth's nominal control, highlighting the geographical breadth of the divided kingdom.

**Why does the verse say "all Israel" when David ruled Judah?**

Answer: The phrase "all Israel" in this verse reflects Abner's ambition and the claim he made on behalf of Ish-bosheth's reign. It was a declaration of comprehensive authority, even though the reality was that David had already been anointed king over the tribe of Judah. This claim of "all Israel" was therefore contested and incomplete, setting the stage for the civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David that would follow, as described in [2 Samuel 3:1](/2_samuel/3-1 "2 Samuel 3:1 - The Long War Between the House of Saul and the House of David").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The divided kingdom under Ish-bosheth and David serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow, pointing to the ultimate, undisputed, and universally recognized kingship of Jesus Christ. While Ish-bosheth's reign was a humanly orchestrated, contested, and ultimately temporary attempt to establish a kingdom, Jesus's kingship is divinely appointed and eternal. Unlike the earthly kingdoms described in 2 Samuel, which were marked by division, political maneuvering, and human frailty, Christ's kingdom is "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Is Not of This World")), yet it encompasses all of creation. The struggle for the throne in Israel foreshadows the spiritual battle for allegiance, culminating in the reign of the true Son of David, whose authority is not limited by tribal boundaries or human opposition. Every knee will ultimately bow to Him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")). He is the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), whose kingdom will have no end, fulfilling God's promise of an eternal throne far beyond any earthly dominion, as proclaimed in [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - He Will Reign Over the House of Jacob Forever").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 108:8

Gilead [is] mine; Manasseh [is] mine; Ephraim also [is] the strength of mine head; Judah [is] my lawgiver;

Numbers 1:40

Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Joshua 13:8

With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, [even] as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;

Joshua 13:11

And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;

Numbers 32:1

¶ Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place [was] a place for cattle;

Numbers 32:42

And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Judges 1:32

But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.