Ish-bosheth

Ish-bosheth (meaning man of shame) was the youngest surviving son of Saul who was installed as king over Israel by Abner, Saul's general, following Saul's death at Mount Gilboa (2 Samuel 2:8–10). His original name was Esh-baal (man of Baal) according to 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 — the name Ish-bosheth being a later scribal substitution that replaced the Baal element with bosheth (shame), a common practice in the transmission of names containing Baal. He ruled for two years from Mahanaim in Transjordan over the northern tribes while David reigned in Hebron over Judah.

Ish-bosheth's reign was marked by the long war between his house and David's (2 Samuel 3:1) and by his fatal conflict with Abner over a concubine of Saul's (2 Samuel 3:7–11), which led Abner to transfer his allegiance to David. Shortly after Abner's assassination by Joab, Ish-bosheth was murdered in his bed by two of his own captains, Baanah and Rechab, who brought his severed head to David expecting a reward — and were instead executed for their treachery (2 Samuel 4:5–12). David's reaction established his consistent principle of not profiting from violence against Saul's house.