2 Samuel 16:9

9 dixit autem Abisai filius Sarviae regi quare maledicit canis hic moriturus domino meo regi vadam et amputabo caput eius

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 ita autem loquebatur Semei cum malediceret regi egredere egredere vir sanguinum et vir Belial

8 reddidit tibi Dominus universum sanguinem domus Saul quoniam invasisti regnum pro eo et dedit Dominus regnum in manu Absalom filii tui et ecce premunt te mala tua quoniam vir sanguinum es

9 dixit autem Abisai filius Sarviae regi quare maledicit canis hic moriturus domino meo regi vadam et amputabo caput eius

10 et ait rex quid mihi et vobis filii Sarviae dimittite eum maledicat Dominus enim praecepit ei ut malediceret David et quis est qui audeat dicere quare sic fecerit

11 et ait rex Abisai et universis servis suis ecce filius meus qui egressus est de utero meo quaerit animam meam quanto magis nunc filius Iemini dimittite eum ut maledicat iuxta praeceptum Domini