The formula used here is the common way of briefly describing the rule of the kings of Israel. It occurs nearly thirty times in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, frequently followed by either the name of the king’s mother or the statement that the king “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.” It is also found in 1 Sam 13.1 and later in this book at 5.4. Some scholars see this as a late addition to the text of 2 Samuel. Good News Translation replaces the name Ish-bosheth by the pronoun “he.” But translators in other languages should use whichever form is most natural in this context. On the form of the name, see the comments on verse 8.

The house of Judah: this, of course, refers to the tribe of Judah. See verses 4 and 7.

Followed: this translates the verb “they were” and the preposition “behind” in Hebrew. The meaning is almost certainly “supported” (New Jerusalem Bible), “was loyal to” (Good News Translation), or “adhered to” (Moffatt). Another possible model is “had accepted David as their ruler.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .