Bible Strands
2 Samuel 3:8
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!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abner speaks to Ish-bosheth immediately after the king questions him about sleeping with Saul’s concubine Rizpah. The confrontation occurs at the moment Abner’s loyalty to Saul’s house begins to fracture.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּחַר (va/i.yi.Char) translates literally as “it burned,” describing Abner’s fierce anger over Ish-bosheth’s words (דִּבְרֵי אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת). This verb frames the dispute as a sudden, consuming reaction to perceived humiliation.
The thread — The “dog” insult parallels later scriptural usage where the lowly or accused describe themselves as worthless, appearing in 2 Samuel 9:8 and 2 Samuel 16:9. The concubine accusation also resonates with Deuteronomy 23:18, which forbids bringing a prostitute’s wages into the temple.
Why it lands — The text records how political allegiance shifts when a leader’s honor is publicly challenged. It requires the reader to note that accusations of misconduct can trigger defection without moral reasoning or divine mandate.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish–bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 9:8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
- 2 Samuel 16:9 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!”
- Deuteronomy 23:18 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.
- 1 Samuel 15:28 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.
- 1 Samuel 24:14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
- 2 Samuel 3:9 May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:
- 2 Samuel 3:18 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.’”
- 2 Samuel 5:2 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.’”
- 2 Kings 8:13 “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.”
- Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?