Son of Saul and Rizpah (2 Sam. 21: 8).

A lame son of Jonathan (2 Sam. 4: 4); with Machir at Lodebar (2 Sam. 9: 6); David's kindness to him (2 Sam. 9: 5-13); Ziba's slander (2 Sam. 16: 1-4); his defense (2 Sam. 19: 24-28); David spares him (2 Sam. 21: 7). His true name was Merib-baal; but later Israelites were unwilling to pronounce the name Baal (cf. Ex. 23: 13), and substituted for it "bosheth," i.e., "shameful thing."