8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, I who against Judah do shew kindness this day to the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou reproachest me this day with the fault of this woman?
And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
Then Samuel said to him, Jehovah has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee to-day, and has given it to thy neighbour, who is better than thou.
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea. Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice [in delivering me] out of thy hand.
and now do [it], for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
Even aforetime, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel; and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.
Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and [why] do the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed: Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us! He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.
For the fury of man shall praise thee; the remainder of fury wilt thou gird on thyself.
For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother. But Herodias kept it [in her mind] against him, and wished to kill him, and could not:
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 3
Commentary on 2 Samuel 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
The battle between Joab and Abner did not end the controversy between the two houses of Saul and David, but it is in this chapter working towards a period. Here is,
2Sa 3:1-6
Here is,
Thus was David's house strengthened; but it was Abner that made himself strong for the house of Saul, which is mentioned (v. 6) to show that, if he failed them, they would fall of course.
2Sa 3:7-21
Here,
2Sa 3:22-39
We have here an account of the murder of Abner by Joab, and David's deep resentment of it.