2 Samuel 16:9

“Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, etc.] A sister’s son of his, and a general in the army, who could not bear to hear the king abused in this manner: why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? be suffered to do it with impunity; a “dog” he calls him, because of his vileness and baseness, and because of his impudence, and on account of his reproachful and abusive language, aptly signified by the snarling and barking of a dog; and a “dead” dog, as being useless, detestable, and abominable: let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head; go over the plain where David and his men were, to the hill on which Shimei was, and strike off his head with his sword; which he…”

“This dead dog - See the marginal reference and 2 Samuel 9:8 note. Go over - The ravine, possibly with a stream of water 2 Samuel 17:20, which lay between them and Shimei. return to 'Top of Page'”

“16:9 Abishai was David’s nephew (1 Chr 2:13-16) and evidently a member of his personal guard. He believed that no one should talk this way to the king and live to tell about it (cp. 2 Sam 19:21). David was slower to judge (cp. 1 Kgs 2:8-9).”

“Abishai: Sa2 3:30; Sa1 26:6-8 dead dog: Sa2 3:8, Sa2 9:8; Sa1 24:14 curse: Exo 22:28; Act 23:5; Pe1 2:17 let me go: Sa1 26:6-11; Job 31:30, Job 31:31; Jer 40:13-16 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 16:10”

“Abishai wanted to put an end to this cursing (on the expression "dead dog," see Sa2 9:8). "Let me go," said he to David, "and take away his head," i.e., chop off his head. But David replied, "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah?" Joab probably joined with Abishai. The formula "what to me and you?" signifies that a person did not wish to have anything in common with the feelings and views of another (cf. Kg1 17:18; Jos 22:24; and τὶ ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, Joh 2:4. For the thing itself, comp. Luk 9:52-56). "If he curses, and if Jehovah hath said to him, Curse David, who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?" For יה וכי יקלּל כּי (Chethib), the Masoretes give us the Keri, יה כּי…”