1. 2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

In what way did the house of Saul become weaker and weaker?

2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV)

1 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

In 2 Samuel 3:1–39, the house of Saul is shown to have grown weaker as Ish-bosheth lost the support of his general (2 Samuel 3:8–10), the presence of his sister (2 Samuel 3:14–16), and the support of the tribes of Israel (2 Samuel 3:17–18) and the tribe of Benjamin (2 Samuel 3:19). In contrast with David, Ish-bosheth is not said to have had any sons and it is thus made clear that his (Saul’s) dynasty would not continue.1