Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
Ver. 9. Why should this dead dog curse my lord?] Abishai was no less zealous for David his kinsman than Shimei was for his, and would fain have been doing with him; his fingers even itched to take off his head, ut maledicire simul et vivere desineret. David is no less earnest with God to take an order with such dead dogs as blasphemed him and his truths. Psalms 74:10 ; Psalms 74:18 ; Psa 74:22-23 This was true zeal in David; but revenge - ζηλος πικρος - in Abishai and Shimei.