2 Samuel 3:6-11

Abner Rebels Against Ish-bosheth. 2 Samuel 3:6-11

6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show 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 today with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

3.

What was Abner's position in the house of Saul? 2 Samuel 3:6

Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. The fact that Abner himself became strong, may indicate one reason why he had backed Ish-bosheth as the king in the first place. Abner was of the same family as Saul; both were members of the tribe of Benjamin. This fact alone would incline Abner towards supporting Saul's son as king. But the fact that Abner was able to make himself strong while serving Ish-bosheth indicates that Abner had personal ambitions.

4.

How had Abner strengthened himself in the house of Saul? 2 Samuel 3:6

Some translators view this as Abner's making himself overbearing in the house of Saul. Some say he must have fortified his own cause by using the house of Saul, but the weakness of the house of Saul is against this rendering. If he really wanted to advance himself, he would have used a stronger tool. Some translators even have said that this verse indicates that Abner ruled the house of Saul. He certainly was the strength of the opposition to David.

5.

Who was Rizpah? 2 Samuel 3:7

Rizpah is introduced as the daughter of Aiah. An Edomite clan bore this name (Génesis 36:24). Rizpah had been the concubine of Saul and evidently taken as a part of the royal family of Ish-bosheth. It seems strange to us that a son would have his father's concubine, but this has been done. Absalom lay with David's concubines in order to show that his break with his father's house was full and complete (2 Samuel 16:22).

W. R. Smith discusses the proposition of the son marrying the wife of his father in his booklet, Kinship and Marriage. The custom seems strange to us, but these people were not living under the Christian dispensation. The practice did not prevail in Israel and is certainly contrary to God's intentions for the human family.

6.

What was the meaning of Abner's question? 2 Samuel 3:8

The alleged offense of Abner was a very serious one, At the death of a king, the wife of the king and the concubines of the king went to the successor on the throne. Treason was the crime of any other person who would dare to take them. Abner was charged with being guilty of such a crime. His question is an idle railing. It is typical of the stubbornness of the human heart rebelling against Divine will.

All that Abner said was that he would not tolerate a rebuke from Ish-bosheth. By this question he made clear the fact that he had nothing but contemptuous hate in his heart for Ish-bosheth. This is the real meaning of his question.

7.

What title did Abner give to himself? 2 Samuel 3:8 b

Abner asked Ish-bosheth if he considered him to be a dog's head. The expression is not used elsewhere in the Bible and seems not to be a reference to his Calebite background. Some translate this as his asking if he were a Calebite captain or a turbulent free-booter. He evidently asks if he is to be considered a Judahite dog's head. He means by this that Ish-bosheth evidently thinks that he is friendly with the enemy and despicable.

8.

Why had Abner dared to fight against God's purpose? 2 Samuel 3:9

Abner evidentemente sabía que Dios le había jurado a David que él sería el próximo rey. Expresó esto cuando dijo que trasladaría el reino de la casa de Saúl y establecería el trono de David sobre Israel y sobre Judá desde Dan hasta Beerseba. Abner había estado motivado por razones personales y egoístas. Estas razones a menudo hacen que las personas se resistan a la voluntad de Dios para sus vidas y para las vidas de los demás.

Is-boset no pudo resistir a Abner porque Abner era más fuerte que el rey mismo. También pudo haber sabido que esta era la voluntad de Dios y que era temerario de su parte intentar frustrar los propósitos de Dios.