John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth , etc.] If false he had a good deal of reason for it; and if true, he thought he deserved better at his hands, than to be reproved for and upbraided with what he might think was a very small fault, and might easily be connived at, and especially in one that had been so serviceable to him: and said, [am] I a dog’s head ; such a mean, vile, contemptible person with thee, as if no better than a dog, and as useless and as unserviceable as a dead dog, the head of a dog cut off; (see 1 Samuel 24:14) ( 2 Samuel 9:8); or am I esteemed and to be treated as a head of dogs, a keeper of a pack of hounds, and not as a general of the armies of Israel? so Jarchi and others; but it seems rather to respect the filthy nature of a dog, that will couple with any; and so the sense is, am I such a filthy lustful creature that care not with whom I lie, no more, than a dog? which against Judah do show kindness to the house of Saul thy father , to his brethren, and to his friends ; who in opposition to the tribe of Judah, which alone abode by David, had shown respect to the family of Saul, and all his friends, by his close attachment to Ishbosheth: and have not delivered thee into the hand David ; when it was in his power to have done it many a tithe: that thou chargest me today with a fault concerning this woman ? he neither denies nor owns the charge, and yet, by his not denying it, tacitly owns it; though, by his way of speaking, he suggests as if it was no fault at all, at least a very trifling one, and such as ought not to have been mentioned to him, considering the services he had done to Ishbosheth and his family.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-21 - Many, like Abner, are not above committing base crimes, who are to proud to bear reproof, or even the suspicion of being guilty. While me go on in sin, and apparently without concern, they are often consciou that they are fighting against God. Many mean to serve their ow purposes; and will betray those who trust them, when they can get an advantage. Yet the Lord serves his own designs, even by those who ar thus actuated by revenge, ambition, or lust; but as they intend not to honour him, in the end they will be thrown aside with contempt. Ther was real generosity both to Michal and to the memory of Saul, in David's receiving the former, remembering probably how once he owed his life to her affection, and knowing that she was separated from his partly by her father's authority. Let no man set his heart on tha which he is not entitled to. If any disagreement has separated husban and wife, as they expect the blessing of God, let them be reconciled and live together in love.
Original Hebrew ויחר2734 לאבנר74 מאד3966 על5921 דברי1697 אישׁ בשׁת378 ויאמר559 הראשׁ7218 כלב3611 אנכי595 אשׁר834 ליהודה3063 היום3117 אעשׂה6213 חסד2617 עם5973 בית1004 שׁאול7586 אביך1 אל413 אחיו251 ואל413 מרעהו4828 ולא3808 המציתך4672 ביד3027 דוד1732 ותפקד6485 עלי5921 עון5771 האשׁה802 היום׃3117
