And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

And he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him.

And so great was Ish-bosheth's fear of Abner that he was not able to say a word in answer.

And Ishbosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

And he was not able to respond anything to him, because he was in fear of him.

He could not answer Abner a word - Miserable is the lot of a king who is governed by the general of his army, who may strip him of his power and dignity whenever he pleases! Witness the fate of poor Charles I. of England and Louis XVI. of France. Military men, above all others, should never be intrusted with any civil power, and should be great only in the field.

And he could not answer Abner a word again,.... That is, he would not, he durst not; otherwise, if it was fact he charged him with, he could have insisted on the truth of it, and aggravated the crime and scandal of it; and observed it to him, that the kindness he had shown him was no excuse for it; but such things, though he would, he durst not say:
because he feared him; he had the army at his command, and could dethrone him when he pleased; and it has been the fate of greater men than Ishbosheth to be awed by their generals, and even David himself; see 2-Samuel 3:39.

Ishbosheth could make no reply to these words of Abner, "because he was afraid of him."