2 Samuel 2:8
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
What it says
Abner, Saul’s army commander, takes Ish-bosheth son of Saul and brings him to Mahanaim. He acts to preserve Saul’s line after Saul’s death.
What it is doing
It introduces the rival center of power under Abner’s control.
In context
8Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, 9and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin— over all Israel. 10Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. 11The house of Judah, however, followed David. And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.