Then Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahsaidto the king,"Whyshould thisdeaddogcursemy lordthe king?Let me goovernowand cutoffhis head."
But Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahsaid,"Should not Shimeibe putto deathfor this,becausehe cursedthe LORD'Sanointed?"
Davidthen said,"Whathave I to do with you, O sonsof Zeruiah,that you should this daybe an adversaryto me? Should anymanbe putto deathin Israeltoday?For do I not knowthat I am kingoverIsraeltoday?"
So Joaband Abishaihis brotherkilledAbnerbecausehe had puttheir brotherAsahelto deathin the battleat Gibeon.
Then Abnerwas veryangryoverthe wordsof Ish-boshethand said,"Am I a dog'sheadthat belongs to Judah?TodayI showkindnessto the houseof Saulyour father,to his brothersand to his friends,and have not deliveredyou into the handsof David;and yet todayyou chargeme with a guiltconcerning the woman.
Again he prostratedhimself and said,"Whatis your servant,that you should regarda deaddoglikeme?"
"You shall not curseGod,norcursea rulerof your people.
When His disciplesJamesand Johnsaw[this], they said,"Lord,do You wantus to commandfireto come downfrom heavenand consumethem?"
And Paulsaid,"I was not aware,brethren,that he was high priest;for it is written,YOU SHALL NOT SPEAKEVILOF A RULEROF YOUR PEOPLE.'"
Honorall people,lovethe brotherhood,fearGod,honorthe king.
"Afterwhomhas the kingof Israelcomeout? Whomare you pursuing?A deaddog,a singleflea?
