II Samuel 3:8
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Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
"And the war became long (was protracted) between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul weaker and weaker." הלך, when connected with another verb or with an adjective, expresses the idea of the gradual progress of an affair (vid., Ges. 131, 3, Anm. 3). The historian sums up in these words the historical course of the two royal houses, as they stood opposed to one another. "The war" does not mean continual fighting, but the state of hostility or war in which they continued to stand towards one another. They concluded no peace, so that David was not recognised by Ishbosheth as king, any more than Ishbosheth by David. Not only is there nothing said about any continuance of actual warfare by Abner or Ishbosheth after the loss of the battle at Gibeon, but such a thing was very improbable in itself, as Ishbosheth was too weak to be able to carry on the war, whilst David waited with firm reliance upon the promise of the Lord, until all Israel should come over to him.
Open source ↗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, I. The gradual advance of David's interest (Sa2 3:1). II. The building up of his family (Sa2 3:2-5). III. Abner's quarrel with Ish-bosheth, and his treaty with David (Sa2 3:6-12). IV. The preliminaries settled (Sa2 3:13-16). V. Abner's undertaking and attempt to bring Israel over to David (Sa2 3:17-21). VI. The treacherous murder of Abner by Joab, when he was carrying on this matter (Sa2 3:22-27). VII. David's great concern and trouble for the death of Abner (Sa2 3:28-39).
Open source ↗3:8 some Judean dog: Cp. 1 Sam 17:43. • by not handing you over to David: Abner had control over the life and death of Saul’s son.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
You must not bring the wages of a prostitute, whether female or male, into the house of the LORD your God to fulfill any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”