What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 3:7? Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah – In the ancient Near East a king’s concubines formed part of his household treasure; whoever controlled the harem signaled control of the throne (cf. 2 Samuel 12:8; 16:21-22; 1 Kings 2:22). – Rizpah appears later as a courageous mother who guards her sons’ bodies (2 Samuel 21:8-10), so mentioning her name here is not incidental. – Since Scripture records Saul’s concubines as real people with legal standing, the narrative should be read literally. – Like Reuben’s sin with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine, such acts carried political and spiritual consequences (Genesis 35:22; 1 Chronicles 5:1). So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner – Ish-bosheth rules only because Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander, placed him on the throne (2 Samuel 2:8-10). – By confronting Abner, Ish-bosheth challenges the man who holds the army’s loyalty; the tension shows who truly wields power (Proverbs 28:2). – Verse 6 notes Abner “had been strengthening his own position,” hinting that Ish-bosheth’s suspicion is grounded in growing ambition. – The king’s hesitation contrasts with David’s decisive leadership in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:1), underscoring why the kingdom will soon shift to David (2 Samuel 5:1-3). “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” – Whether Abner actually slept with Rizpah or merely intended to, the accusation alone implies treason: seizing the royal harem equals laying claim to the crown (2 Samuel 16:22; 1 Kings 2:13-25). – Ish-bosheth’s wording stresses both the sexual sin and the disrespect toward Saul’s memory (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 18:8). – Abner’s angry reaction in verses 8-10 (“Am I a dog’s head…?”) shows the confrontation backfires; he vows to transfer the kingdom to David, fulfilling God’s promise (1 Samuel 15:28; 16:1, 13). – The episode spotlights how personal morality and national destiny intertwine: private impurity can trigger public upheaval (Proverbs 14:34). summary 2 Samuel 3:7 reveals more than a family scandal; it exposes the fragile legitimacy of Saul’s dynasty. A royal concubine, a suspicious king, and an ambitious general collide, setting in motion the collapse of Ish-bosheth’s reign. By treating Saul’s concubine as his own, Abner appears to assert royal rights, prompting Ish-bosheth’s fearful question. The incident illustrates how God sovereignly uses even flawed human actions to advance His declared plan—moving the throne from Saul’s house to David’s, just as He had spoken. |
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