2 Samuel 2 · Verse 10

2 Samuel 2:10

Ish–bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
2 Samuel 2:10, King James Version

2 Samuel 2:10 in other translations

BSBSaul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
WEBIshbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
ASVIsh-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
YLTA son of forty years, is Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, in his reigning over Israel, and two years he hath reigned, only the house of Judah have been after David.
DARBYIshbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. However, the house of Judah followed David.
BBE(Saul's son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was ruler for two years.) But Judah was on the side of David.
WebsterIsh-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years: but the house of Judah followed David.

What does 2 Samuel 2:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 2:8-17

8-17. Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host took Ish-bosheth--Here was the establishment of a rival kingdom, which, however, would probably have had no existence but for Abner. Ish-bosheth--or "Esh-baal" (1Ch 8:33; 9:39). The Hebrews usually changed names ending with Baal into Bosheth ("shame") (compare Jud 9:53 with 2Sa 11:21). This prince was so called from his imbecility. Abner--was first cousin of Saul…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 2:8-17 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Ish-bosheth - reigned two years - It is well observed that Ish-bosheth reigned all the time that David reigned in Hebron, which was seven years and six months. Perhaps the meaning of the writer is this: Ish-bosheth reigned two years before any but the tribe of Judah had attached themselves to the interest of David. Some think that Abner in effect reigned the last five years of Ish-bosheth, who had only the name of king after the first two years. Or the text may be understood thus: When Ish-bosheth had reigned two years over Israel, he was forty years of age. Houbigant, dissatisfied with all the common modes of solution, proposes to read ששית שנה shishshith shanah, six years, for the שתים שנים shetayim shanim, two years, of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for in pure Hebrew the words would be שתים שנה as they are everywhere read in the first book; and שנה is the reading of eleven of Kennicott's MSS., and nine of De Rossi's; but the number two is acknowledged by all the ancient versions, and by all the MSS. yet collated. The critical reader may examine Houbigant on the place. After all, probably the expedition mentioned in the succeeding verses is that to which the writer refers, and from which he dates. Ish-bosheth had reigned two years without any rupture with David or his men, till under the direction of Abner, captain of his host, the Israelites passed over Jordan, from Mahanaim to Gibeon, and being opposed by Joab, captain of David's host, that battle took place which is described in the following verses.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:8-17

The nation in general refused David. By this the Lord trained up his servant for future honour and usefulness; and the tendency of true godliness was shown in his behaviour while passing through various difficulties. David was herein a type of Christ, whom Israel would not submit to, though anointed of the Father to be a Prince and a Saviour to them. Abner meant, Let the young men fight before us, when he said, Let…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 2:8-17 →

2 Samuel 2:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בֶּן\־ben-[was] a son ofH1121
אַרְבָּעִ֨ים'ar.ba.'ImfortyH705
שָׁנָ֜הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
אִֽישׁ\־'ish-Ish-H378
בֹּ֣שֶׁתBo.shetboshethH378
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
שָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
בְּמָלְכוֹ֙be.ma.le.Khowhen became king heH4427
עַל\־'al-overH5921
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וּשְׁתַּ֥יִםu.she.Ta.yimand twoH8147
שָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimyearsH8141
מָלָ֑ךְma.Lakhhe reignedH4427
אַ֚ךְ'akhonlyH389
בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
יְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahJudahH3063
הָי֖וּha.Yuthey wereH1961
אַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
דָוִֽד\׃da.VidDavidH1732

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
two years.Houbigant proposes to read {shesh shanah,} "six years" instead of {shetayim shanim,} "two years," of the text, which he contends is a solecism; for, in pure Hebrew, the words should be {shetayim shanah;} and this is the reading of twenty MSS.; but two is acknowledged by all the versions and MSS. yet collated.
10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 2:9

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

  • 2 Samuel 2:10

    Ish–bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

  • 2 Samuel 2:11

    And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Read all of 2 Samuel 2

2 Samuel 2:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		De cuarenta años era Is-boseth hijo de Saúl, cuando comenzó á reinar sobre Israel; y reinó dos años. Sola la casa de Judá seguía á David.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ish-Bosheth, fils de Saül, était âgé de 40 ans lorsqu’il régna sur Israël, et il régna deux ans. Toutefois la maison de Juda suivit David.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Vierzig Jahre war Isboseth, der Sohn Sauls, alt, als er König wurde über Israel, und er regierte zwei Jahre; nur das Haus Juda folgte David nach.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quadraginta annorum erat Isboseth filius Saul cum regnare cœpisset super Israël, et duobus annis regnavit: sola autem domus Juda sequebatur David.