2. Samuel 16:9

Abishai wanted to put an end to this cursing (on the expression "dead dog," see Sa2 9:8). "Let me go," said he to David, "and take away his head," i.e., chop off his head. But David replied, "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah?" Joab probably joined with Abishai. The formula "what to me and you?" signifies that a person did not wish to have anything in common with the feelings and views of another (cf. Kg1 17:18; Jos 22:24; and τὶ ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, Joh 2:4. For the thing itself, comp. Luk 9:52-56). "If he curses, and if Jehovah hath said to him, Curse David, who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?" For יה וכי יקלּל כּי (Chethib), the Masoretes give us the Keri, יה כּי יקלּל כּה, "so let him curse, for Jehovah," etc. This thought lies at the foundation of the rendering adopted by the lxx, who have inserted, by way of explanation, καὶ ἄφετε αὐτὸν καὶ: so let him go, and so may he curse. The Vulgate is just the same: dimittite eum ut maledicat. This interpolation is taken from Sa2 16:11, and, like the Keri, is nothing more than a conjecture, which was adopted simply because כּי was taken as a causal particle, and then offence was taken at וכי. But כּי signifies if, quando, in this passage, and the ו before the following וּמי introduces the apodosis.

In the close of the foregoing chapter we left David flying from Jerusalem, and Absalom entering into it; in this chapter, I. We are to follow David in his melancholy flight; and there we find him, 1. Cheated by Ziba (Sa2 16:1-4). 2. Cursed by Shimei, which he bears with wonderful patience (Sa2 16:5-14). II. We are to meet Absalom in his triumphant entry; and there we find him, 1. Cheated by Hushai (Sa2 16:15-19). 2. Counselled by Ahithophel to go in unto his father's concubines (Sa2 16:20-23).

16:9 Abishai was David’s nephew (1 Chr 2:13-16) and evidently a member of his personal guard. He believed that no one should talk this way to the king and live to tell about it (cp. 2 Sam 19:21). David was slower to judge (cp. 1 Kgs 2:8-9).