2 Samuel 3:6-11 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

2 Samuel 3:6 to 2 Samuel 4:12. Quarrel between Abner and Ishbaal. Treachery of Abner. Death of Abner, and of Ishbaal (J). Cf. p. 286.

2 Samuel 3:6-11. Abner went in to Rizpah, Saul's concubine; an act of lè se majesté, as the harem of a king was the property of his successor (2 Samuel 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:22). He met Ishbaal's remonstrances with contemptuous and indignant anger. Was he, to whom the house of Saul owed so much, to be treated like a dog, on account of a trifling matter about a woman? He would soon show the nominal king who was master. Ishbaal dared not answer him.

2 Samuel 3:8. a dog's head that belongeth to Judah: the expression dog's head is not found elsewhere. The words that belongeth to Judah should be omitted. Some scribe reading Dog (caleb) took it to mean the tribe, and added an explanatory note on that supposition.

Related Commentaries of 2 Samuel 3:6

2 Samuel 3:6-11

6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto 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 chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.