God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 3:7
7Saul had a concubine named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?”
2 Samuel 3:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- New International Version (NIV)Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
Context of 2 Samuel 3:7
5The sixth was Ithream, ⌞born⌟ to David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. 6During the war between the families of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his position in Saul’s royal family. Saul had a concubine named Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, “Why did you have sex with my father’s concubine?” 8Ishbosheth’s question made Abner very angry. “Have I been behaving like some Judean dog?” he asked. “Until now I’ve been faithful to your father Saul’s family, to his relatives and friends, and I haven’t handed you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman. 9May God strike me dead unless I do for David what the Lord had promised him with an oath:
Read all of 2 Samuel 32 Samuel 3:7 word by word
וּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת־אַיָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- had a concubineפִּלֶ֫גֶשׁpîylegesh pilegesh · concubineH6370
- whose nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- Rizpahרִצְפָּהritspâh · RizpahH7532
- the daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
- of Aiahאַיָּה'ayâh · AiahH345
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- Wherefore hast thou gone inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto my father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 3:7
- 2 Samuel 21:8The king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah (Aiah’s daughter) gave birth to for Saul, and five sons whom Merab (Saul’s daughter) gave birth to for Adriel, son of Barzillai from Meholah.
- 2 Samuel 12:8I gave you your master Saul’s house and his wives. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this weren’t enough, I would have given you even more.
- 2 Samuel 16:21Ahithophel told Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear about how you have made your father despise you. Everyone who is with you will support you even more.”
- 1 Kings 2:17He said, “Please ask King Solomon to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife. He will not refuse you.”
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah - For the sequel of her history, see the marginal reference. Aiah, was an Edomite, or rather Horite name Genesis 36:24.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 Many, like Abner, are not above committing base crimes, who are too proud to bear reproof, or even the suspicion of being guilty. While men go on in sin, and apparently without concern, they are often conscious that they are fighting against God. Many mean to serve their own purposes; and will betray those who trust them, when they can get any advantage. Yet the Lord serves his own designs, even by those who are thus actuated by revenge…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?: It is not clear whether Abner actually did this. Taking a king’s wife or concubine was often a sign that someone was trying to take the king’s place (that is, trying to become king; see 2 Samuel 12:8; 16:21; 1 Kings 2:17–25). Rizpah: See also 2 Samuel 21:8–14.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-116-11. Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul--In the East, the wives and concubines of a king are the property of his successor to this extent, that for a private person to aspire to marry one of them would be considered a virtual advance of pretensions to the crown (see 1Ki 2:17). It is not clear whether the accusation against Abner was well or ill founded. But he resented the charge as an indignity, and, impelled by revenge, determined to…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 3:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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