2 Samuel 3:7
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?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a scandalous accusation; it's a power play. Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, is asserting his authority by calling out Abner's intimate relationship with Rizpah, who was his father's concubine, essentially accusing Abner of disrespecting his royal lineage and claiming what belonged to his father. The intimacy with a deceased king's concubine was a serious transgression, viewed as a symbolic act of taking over the king's household and, by extension, his claim to the throne itself.
The chapters leading up to this describe the tumultuous aftermath of King Saul's death, with David being anointed king but not yet fully established over all Israel. Abner, Saul's powerful commander, initially supports Saul's son Ish-bosheth, but his actions here, taking Rizpah, stir up immediate conflict with Ish-bosheth. This dispute escalates into a major falling out between Abner and Ish-bosheth, ultimately leading Abner to switch his allegiance to David.
Abner, a powerful general, did something that sparked a major conflict. It wasn't just a personal spat; it had political and social implications.
In ancient Israelite culture, a king's concubines weren't just mistresses; they were part of his royal household and symbolically linked to his authority and lineage.
A Royal Claim
When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son and the current king, accuses Abner of going into his father's concubine, he's not just expressing personal offense. He's asserting his royal rights and dignity. Abner's action was seen as a public challenge to Ish-bosheth's kingship, almost as if Abner were claiming Saul's royal status or asserting his own dominance over the royal household.
Personal Honor and Public Scandal
This act would have been deeply shaming for Ish-bosheth. It brought dishonor to Saul's legacy and questioned the integrity of the royal line. For Abner, it was a reckless move that undermined the fragile stability of Ish-bosheth's rule, which was already contested by David.
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This explosive confrontation reveals more than just Abner's boundary-crossing. It shows the precariousness of Ish-bosheth's reign and Abner's growing influence.
The entire incident is a symptom of a kingdom divided and a leader losing control.
Abner's Power Play
Abner was the real power behind Ish-bosheth's throne. He was Saul's nephew and a seasoned military commander. By acting with such impunity regarding Saul's concubine, Abner might have been testing Ish-bosheth's authority, possibly even signaling his own growing ambition or frustration with Ish-bosheth's leadership.
Ish-bosheth's Vulnerability
Ish-bosheth, unlike his father Saul, lacked the charisma and strength to unite the tribes. He was largely dependent on Abner's military might and political maneuvering. His furious accusation, while understandable, exposes his insecurity and lack of true authority. He could only react with anger, not command respect or resolution.
Understand the original words
pilegesh · Hebrew Noun
A secondary wife, usually of lower status than a primary wife, whose children might not have full inheritance rights, though she was legally recognized and entitled to protection. In a royal context, having access to the former king’s concubine was considered a symbolic claim to the throne.
Abner's desire to consolidate power and perhaps to assert his own authority, by taking Rizpah, one of Saul's concubines, was a risky move. In ancient Israelite culture, a king's concubines were often seen as part of his royal harem and symbolically linked to his power. Abner's action was a direct challenge to Ish-bosheth's legitimacy as Saul's successor and a major political misstep.
c. 1010 BC
Death of King Saul
Saul, the first king of Israel, dies in battle against the Philistines. This marks the end of his tumultuous reign and leaves a power vacuum.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David is first anointed king over Judah in Hebron. He begins his rule in the southern part of the divided kingdom.
c. 1010 BC
Ish-bosheth Becomes King of Israel
Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, is made king over the northern tribes of Israel by Abner, Saul's powerful military commander. This creates a divided kingdom with rival rulers.
c. 1005-1002 BC— this verse
Abner Defects to David
After a conflict with Ish-bosheth, Abner, the commander of Ish-bosheth's army, defects and offers his allegiance to David. He begins negotiating for the reunification of Israel under David.
c. 1002 BC
Assassination of Abner
Abner is killed by Joab, David's commander, in revenge for the death of Joab's brother Asahel. This event dramatically complicates David's path to kingship over all Israel.
c. 1002 BC
Assassination of Ish-bosheth
Ish-bosheth is murdered by two of his own commanders. This leaves the northern tribes without a king and paves the way for David's undisputed rule.
This passage also deals with a son violating his father's concubine, showing this was a serious transgression carrying significant consequences and impacting family relationships.
1 Kings 2:13-17King David punishes his son Adonijah for asking for Abishag, Saul's concubine, highlighting the sanctity and political sensitivity surrounding a deceased king's concubines.
Leviticus 18:8This verse directly forbids uncovering the nakedness of a father's wife (which included concubines), establishing the Old Testament law that Abner's action violated.
Song of Solomon 8:6This poetic verse speaks of love being 'as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm,' contrasting the passionate, rightful love with the illicit act described in 2 Samuel 3:7.
This isn't just a scandalous accusation; it's a power play. Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, is asserting his authority by calling out Abner's intimate relationship with Rizpah, who was his father's concubine, essentially accusing Abner of disrespecting his royal lineage and claiming what belonged to his father. The intimacy with a deceased king's concubine was a serious transgression, viewed as a symbolic act of taking over the king's household and, by extension, his claim to the throne itself.
The chapters leading up to this describe the tumultuous aftermath of King Saul's death, with David being anointed king but not yet fully established over all Israel. Abner, Saul's powerful commander, initially supports Saul's son Ish-bosheth, but his actions here, taking Rizpah, stir up immediate conflict with Ish-bosheth. This dispute escalates into a major falling out between Abner and Ish-bosheth, ultimately leading Abner to switch his allegiance to David.
The chapters leading up to this describe the tumultuous aftermath of King Saul's death, with David being anointed king but not yet fully established over all Israel. Abner, Saul's powerful commander, initially supports Saul's son Ish-bosheth, but his actions here, taking Rizpah, stir up immediate conflict with Ish-bosheth. This dispute escalates into a major falling out between Abner and Ish-bosheth, ultimately leading Abner to switch his allegiance to David.
"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?”" — This isn't just a scandalous accusation; it's a power play. Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, is asserting his authority by calling out Abner's intimate relationship with Rizpah, who was his father's concubin…
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