2 Samuel 3:7

7 While Saul was still alive, he had a concubine named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's concubine?"

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 son was Ithream. His mother was David's wife Eglah. Those sons were born to David in Hebron.
6 The fighting continued between David's royal house and Saul's royal house. Abner gained more and more power in the royal house of Saul.
7 While Saul was still alive, he had a concubine named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's concubine?"
8 Abner burned with anger because of what Ish-Bosheth said. He answered, "Do you think I'm only a dog's head? Am I on Judah's side? To this very day I've been true to the royal house of your father Saul. I've been true to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. But now you claim that I've sinned with this woman!
9 "I will do for David what the LORD promised him with an oath. If I don't, may God punish me greatly.
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