Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 16:9
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.
9. Then said Abishai ] Consistently with his character on the former occasion when he wished to slay Saul (1Sa 26:8), and on the later occasion, when he was for refusing Shimei’s suit for pardon (ch. 2Sa 19:21). His fiery zeal reminds us of the Sons of Thunder (Luk 9:54), and David’s answer recalls Christ’s answer to Peter (Joh 18:10-11).
this dead dog ] See ch. 2Sa 9:8, 2Sa 3:8, and notes there.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This dead dog – See the marginal reference and 2Sa 9:8 note.
Go over – The ravine, possibly with a stream of water 2Sa 17:20, which lay between them and Shimei.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king,…. A sister’s son of his, and a general in the army, who could not bear to hear the king abused in this manner:
why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? be suffered to do it with impunity; a “dog” he calls him, because of his vileness and baseness, and because of his impudence, and on account of his reproachful and abusive language, aptly signified by the snarling and barking of a dog; and a “dead” dog, as being useless, detestable, and abominable:
let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head; go over the plain where David and his men were, to the hill on which Shimei was, and strike off his head with his sword; which he could easily do, and soon put an end to his cursing.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Abishai wanted to put an end to this cursing (on the expression “dead dog,” see 2Sa 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. 1Ki 17:18; Jos 22:24; and , 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 ( Chethib), the Masoretes give us the Keri, , “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, : so let him go, and so may he curse. The Vulgate is just the same: dimittite eum ut maledicat . This interpolation is taken from 2Sa 16:11, and, like the Keri, is nothing more than a conjecture, which was adopted simply because was taken as a causal particle, and then offence was taken at . But signifies if, quando , in this passage, and the before the following introduces the apodosis.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
9. Dead dog See note on 2Sa 9:8.
Curse the king This was transgression, for the law said, “Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.” Exo 22:28.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(9) 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. (10) And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? (11) And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. (12) It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
I have often admired the conduct of David upon this occasion, and have been secretly led to observe how graciously the LORD enabled him so to act. But I have been led yet more, both to admire and adore the LORD’s mercy in the midst of his afflictions, in the plentiful supply of grace imparted to him. Well might David say that his song should be of mercy and judgment, and that he would direct this song unto GOD; for here, as well as in many other periods of his wonderful life, he found occasion to sing of both, as strikingly blended. GOD was evidently visiting him in judgment. But in the midst of judgment he gave him large proofs of mercy. I beg the Reader to take with him, in the perusal of David’s conduct respecting Shimei, those several sweet instructions it brings. Let Shimei curse, saith David, for the LORD hath bidden him. Not that David meant that Shimei did right in what he did, as it respected himself; for Shimei’s sin was the same, though the LORD overruled it for good; but he meant, that GOD was now afflicting David, and therefore made use of this rod, bad as it was, to accomplish his holy purpose. Reader! it is precious to justify GOD in all our afflictions. The LORD cannot do iniquity, that is certain. David saw the LORD’s hand in it, and that was enough; he had not one word to say by way of complaint. Let him curse, the LORD hath bidden him. But this is not all: As the LORD’s hand is in this affliction, David was led to hope therefrom an happy issue. It may be, said David, that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. No doubt David felt all that nature ought to feel in the reproaches of Shimei; but, beholding at the same time that the LORD had commissioned him, trust in GOD’S covenant promises made him conclude that the end would be peace. Reader! see whether your afflictions have this sanctified issue. Do you see the LORD’S hand in them? Do they lead you to GOD? Do they prompt you to approve of GOD? Job’s prayer to this effect is a sweet prayer; That which I see not, teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Job 34:32 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 16:9 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. Psa 74:10 ; Psa 74:18 ; Psa 74:22-23 This was true zeal in David; but revenge – – in Abishai and Shimei.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dead dog. Figure of speech Antiprosopopceia. App-6. Compare 1Sa 17:43,
let me go. Compare 1Sa 26:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Abishai: 2Sa 3:30, 1Sa 26:6-8
dead dog: 2Sa 3:8, 2Sa 9:8, 1Sa 24:14
curse: Exo 22:28, Act 23:5, 1Pe 2:17
let me go: 1Sa 26:6-11, Job 31:30, Job 31:31, Jer 40:13-16
Reciprocal: 1Sa 17:43 – Am 1Ch 2:16 – the sons of 1Ch 18:12 – Moreover