Ish-bosheth - man of shame or humiliation, the youngest of Saul's four sons, and the only one who survived him (2 Sam. 2-4). His name was originally Eshbaal (1 Chr. 8:33;1 Chr 9:39). He was about forty years of age when his father and three brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. Through the influence of Abner, Saul's cousin, he was acknowledged as successor to the throne of Saul, and ruled over all Israel, except the tribe of Judah (over whom David was king), for two years, having Mahanaim, on the east of Jordan, as his capital (2 Sam. 2:9). After a troubled and uncertain reign he was murdered by his guard, who stabbed him while he was asleep on his couch at mid-day (2 Sam. 4:5-7); and having cut off his head, presented it to David, who sternly rebuked them for this cold-blooded murder, and ordered them to be immediately executed (9-12).

Ishi - my husband, a symbolical name used in Hos. 2:16 (See BAALI.)

Ishmael - God hears. (1.) Abraham's eldest son, by Hagar the concubine ( Gen. 16:15;Gen 17:23). He was born at Mamre, when Abraham was eighty-six years of age, eleven years after his arrival in Canaan ( Gen 16:3;Gen 21:5). At the age of thirteen he was circumcised ( Gen 17:25). He grew up a true child of the desert, wild and wayward. On the occasion of the weaning of Isaac his rude and wayward spirit broke out in expressions of insult and mockery ( Gen 21:9,Gen 21:10); and Sarah, discovering this, said to Abraham, "Expel this slave and her son." Influenced by a divine admonition, Abraham dismissed Hagar and her son with no more than a skin of water and some bread. The narrative describing this act is one of the most beautiful and touching incidents of patriarchal life ( Gen. 21:14-16). (See HAGAR.)

Ishmael settled in the land of Paran, a region lying between Canaan and the mountains of Sinai; and "God was with him, and he became a great archer" ( Gen. 21:9-21). He became a great desert chief, but of his history little is recorded. He was about ninety years of age when his father Abraham died, in connection with whose burial he once more for a moment reappears. On this occasion the two brothers met after being long separated. "Isaac with his hundreds of household slaves, Ishmael with his troops of wild retainers and half-savage allies, in all the state of a Bedouin prince, gathered before the cave of Machpelah, in the midst of the men of Heth, to pay the last duties to the 'father of the faithful,' would make a notable subject for an artist" ( Gen. 25:9). Of the after events of his life but little is known. He died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven years, but where and when are unknown ( Gen 25:17). He had twelve sons, who became the founders of so many Arab tribes or colonies, the Ishmaelites, who spread over the wide desert spaces of Northern Arabia from the Red Sea to the Euphrates ( Gen. 37:25,Gen. 37:27,Gen. 37:28;Gen 39:1), "their hand against every man, and every man's hand against them."

(2.) The son of Nethaniah, "of the seed royal" ( Jer. 40:8,Jer. 40:15). He plotted against Gedaliah, and treacherously put him and others to death. He carried off many captives, "and departed to go over to the Ammonites."

Ishmaiah - heard by Jehovah. (1.) A Gibeonite who joined David at Ziklag, "a hero among the thirty and over the thirty" (1 Chr. 12:4).

(2.) Son of Obadiah, and viceroy of Zebulun under David and Solomon (1 Chr. 27:19).

Ishmeelites - ( Gen. 37:28;Gen 39:1, A.V.) should be "Ishmaelites," as in the Revised Version.

Ishtob - man of Tob, one of the small Syrian kingdoms which together constituted Aram (2 Sam. 10:6,2 Sam. 10:8).

Island - (Heb. 'i, "dry land," as opposed to water) occurs in its usual signification ( Isa. 42:4,Isa. 42:10,Isa. 42:12,Isa. 42:15, comp. Jer. 47:4), but more frequently simply denotes a maritime region or sea-coast ( Isa. 20:6, R.V.," coastland ;" 23:2, coastland ;" 23:6; Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:6, Ezek. 27:7). (See CHITTIM.) The shores of the Mediterranean are called the "islands of the sea" ( Isa. 11:11), or the "isles of the Gentiles" ( Gen. 10:5), and sometimes simply "isles" ( Ps. 72:10); Ezek. 26:15, Ezek. 26:18; Ezek 27:3, Ezek. 26:35; Dan. 11:18).

Israel - the name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel ( Gen. 32:28), because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed." (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob's descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called "Israelites," the "children of Israel" ( Josh. 3:17;Josh 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the "house of Israel" ( Ex. 16:31;Ex 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel ( Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3; John 1:47; Rom. 9:6; 11:26).

After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogated to themselves this name, as if they were the whole nation (2 Sam. 2:9,2 Sam. 2:10,2 Sam. 2:17,2 Sam. 2:28;2 Sam 3:10,2 Sam. 2:17;2 Sam 19:40-43), and the kings of the ten tribes were called "kings of Israel," while the kings of the two tribes were called "kings of Judah."

After the Exile the name Israel was assumed as designating the entire nation.

Israel, Kingdom of - (B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (1 Kings 11:31-35) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents 1 Kings 12:2,1 Kings 12:3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects 1 Kings 12:4), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all Israel raised the old cry, "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (2 Sam. 20:1). Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:1-18; 2 Chr. 10), and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, Judah and Benjamin remaining faithful to Solomon's son. War, with varying success, was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of Ahab.

Extent of the kingdom. In the time of Solomon the area of Palestine, excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of the Mediterranean, did not much exceed 13,000 square miles. The kingdom of Israel comprehended about 9,375 square miles. Shechem was the first capital of this kingdom (1 Kings 12:25), afterwards Tirza 1 Kings 14:17). Samaria was subsequently chosen as the capital 1 Kings 16:24), and continued to be so till the destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:5). During the siege of Samaria (which lasted for three years) by the Assyrians, Shalmaneser died and was succeeded by Sargon, who himself thus records the capture of that city: "Samaria I looked at, I captured; 27,280 men who dwelt in it I carried away" (2 Kings 17:6) into Assyria. Thus after a duration of two hundred and fifty-three years the kingdom of the ten tribes came to an end. They were scattered throughout the East. (See CAPTIVITY.)

"Judah held its ground against Assyria for yet one hundred and twenty-three years, and became the rallying-point of the dispersed of every tribe, and eventually gave its name to the whole race. Those of the people who in the last struggle escaped into the territories of Judah or other neighbouring countries naturally looked to Judah as the head and home of their race. And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon, many of the exiled Israelites joined them from Assyria, and swelled that immense population which made Babylonia a second Palestine."

After the deportation of the ten tribes, the deserted land was colonized by various eastern tribes, whom the king of Assyria sent thither ( Ezra 4:2,Ezra 4:10; 2 Kings 17:24-29). (See KINGS.)

In contrast with the kingdom of Judah is that of Israel. (1.) "There was no fixed capital and no religious centre. (2.) The army was often insubordinate. (3.) The succession was constantly interrupted, so that out of nineteen kings there were no less than nine dynasties, each ushered in by a revolution. (4.) The authorized priests left the kingdom in a body, and the priesthood established by Jeroboam had no divine sanction and no promise; it was corrupt at its very source." (Maclean's O. T. Hist.)

Issachar - hired ( Gen. 30:18). "God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Heb. sekhari)...and she called his name Issachar." He was Jacob's ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram ( comp. 28:2). He had four sons at the going down into Egypt ( comp 46:13; Num. 26:23, Num. 26:25).

Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun ( Num. 2:5), marched on the east of the tabernacle. This tribe contained 54,400 fighting men when the census was taken at Sinai. After the entrance into the Promised Land, this tribe was one of the six which stood on Gerizim during the ceremony of the blessing and cursing ( Deut. 27:12). The allotment of Issachar is described in Josh. 19:17-23. It included the plain of Esdraelon (=Jezreel), which was and still is the richest portion of Palestine ( Deut. 33:18,Deut. 33:19; 1 Chr. 12:40).

The prophetic blessing pronounced by Jacob on Issachar corresponds with that of Moses ( Gen. 49:14,Gen. 49:15; comp. Deut. 33:18, Deut. 33:19).

Italian band - the name of the Roman cohort to which Cornelius belonged ( Acts 10:1), so called probably because it consisted of men recruited in Italy.

Italy - Acts 18:2; Acts 27:1, Acts 18:6; Heb. 13:24), like most geographical names, was differently used at different periods of history. As the power of Rome advanced, nations were successively conquered and added to it till it came to designate the whole country to the south of the Alps. There was constant intercourse between Palestine and Italy in the time of the Romans.

Ithamar - palm isle, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron (1 Chr. 6:3). He was consecrated to the priesthood along with his brothers ( Ex. 6:23); and after the death of Nadab and Abihu, he and Eleazar alone discharged the functions of that office ( Lev. 10:6,Lev. 10:12; Num. 3:4). He and his family occupied the position of common priest till the high priesthood passed into his family in the person of Eli (1 Kings 2:27), the reasons for which are not recorded. (See ZADOK.)

Ithrite - two of David's warriors so designated (2 Sam. 23:38; 1 Chr. 11:40).

Ittai - near; timely; or, with the Lord. (1.) A Benjamite, one of David's thirty heroes (2 Sam. 23:29).

(2.) A native of Gath, a Philistine, who had apparently the command of the six hundred heroes who formed David's band during his wanderings (2 Sam. 15:19-22; comp. 1 Sam. 23:13;1 Sam 27:2;1 Sam 30:9,1 Sam. 23:10). He is afterwards with David at Mahanaim, holding in the army equal rank with Joab and Abishai (2 Sam. 18:2,2 Sam. 18:5,2 Sam. 18:12). He then passes from view.

Ituraea - a district in the north-east of Palestine, forming, along with the adjacent territory of Trachonitis, the tetrarchy of Philip ( Luke 3:1). The present Jedur comprehends the chief part of Ituraea. It is bounded on the east by Trachonitis, on the south by Gaulanitis, on the west by Hermon, and on the north by the plain of Damascus.

Ivah - overturning, a city of the Assyrians, whence colonists were brought to Samaria (2 Kings 18:34;2 Kings 19:13). It lay on the Euphrates, between Sepharvaim and Henah, and is supposed by some to have been the Ahava of Ezra 2 Kings 8:15).

Ivory - (Heb. pl. shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians, and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians ( Ezek. 27:6; Rev. 18:12). It was used by the Phoenicians to ornament the box-wood rowing-benches of their galleys, and Hiram's skilled workmen made Solomon's throne of ivory (1 Kings 10:18). It was brought by the caravans of Dedan ( Isa. 21:13), and from the East Indies by the navy of Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22). Many specimens of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian ivory-work have been preserved. The word habbim is derived from the Sanscrit ibhas, meaning "elephant," preceded by the Hebrew article (ha); and hence it is argued that Ophir, from which it and the other articles mentioned in 1 Kings 10:22 were brought, was in India.

Izhar - oil, one of the sons of Kohath, and grandson of Levi ( Ex. 6:18,Ex. 6:21; Num. 16:1).

Izrahite - the designation of one of David's officers (1 Chr. 27:8).

Jaakan - he twists, one of the sons of Ezer, the son of Seir the Horite (1 Chr. 1:42).

Jaakobah - heel-catcher, a form of the name Jacob, one of the descendants of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:36).

Jaala - a wild she-goat, one of the Nethinim, whose descendants returned from the Captivity ( Neh. 7:58).

Jaalam - concealer, the second of Esau's three sons by Aholibamah ( Gen. 36:5,Gen. 36:14).

Jaanai - mourner, one of the chief Gadites (1 Chr. 5:12).