Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? (2 Samuel 3:8)
Abner was angry because the one who owed his throne solely to his support now dared to reproach and upbraid him.
Dog’s head.
The first part of Abner’s reply reads literally, “Am I a dog’s head which belongs to Judah?” The LXX omits the expression “which belongs to Judah.” Abner’s words were not an attempt to justify himself, but rather an expression of his resentment of Ish-bosheth’s rebuke. Ish-bosheth had probably employed some term of reproach against Abner, and Abner now responded by asking whether after all he was such a vile and worthless creature—he who had taken so strong a position against Judah and had continued to show such great kindness to the house of Saul.