2 Samuel 3:7

7 One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

2 Samuel 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 3:7

And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter
of Aiah
By whom he had two sons, ( 2 Samuel 21:8 ) . Josephus F1 calls her father's name Sibathus:

and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner;
though the word "Ishbosheth" is not in the text, it is rightly supplied; for no other can be supposed to speak:

wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
and defiled her; though perhaps it was not so much the act of uncleanness that so much offended him, or the dishonour reflected on him and his family thereby, as it discovered an ambitious view in Abner to get the kingdom into his own hands, to which this was the leading step; see ( 1 Kings 2:22 ) . Whether Abner was really guilty of this sin or no is not easy to determine; though, by his not absolutely denying it, it looks as if it was not merely a jealousy of Ishbosheth, or a false report made unto him; though, especially if he was not fully satisfied of it, it would have been his wisdom to have said nothing of it to him, since his continuance on the throne so much depended on him.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 1. sect. 4.

2 Samuel 3:7 In-Context

5 The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.
6 As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.
7 One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
8 Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward—that you find fault with me about this woman?
9 May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him!

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.
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