There was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.
The information concerning Saul’s family members that the writer recorded here corresponds to other similar ancient Near Eastern texts. It was common to give this information as part of a summary of a king’s accomplishments (cf. 2 Samuel 8). Ishvi is probably an alternative name for Ishbosheth.