2 Samuel 16:9

9 Then said Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

2 Samuel 16:9 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:9

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.

2 Samuel 16:9 In-Context

7 Thus said Shim`i when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:

8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Sha'ul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Avshalom your son; and, behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.

9 Then said Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

10 The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Tzeru'yah? Because he curses, and because the LORD has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so?

11 David said to Avishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Binyamini now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has invited him.