1 Samuel 26:14

14 Then David shouted to the army and to Abner, Ner's son, "Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?" "Who are you to shout to the king?" Abner asked.

1 Samuel 26:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:14

And David cried unto the people
To the army of Saul with a loud voice, that he might be heard:

and to Abner the son of Ner;
particularly to him, because he was general of the army:

saying, answerest thou not, Abner?
it seems he had called to him more than once, and he had returned no answer; perhaps not being thoroughly awake, or not knowing whose voice it was, and from whence it came:

then Abner answered and said, who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?
but it does not appear that David called to the king, only to the people, and to Abner their general, and therefore may be better rendered, "by the king" ^F19; that is, near him, or "before him" ^F20, in his presence. Kimchi and Ben Melech explain it, upon the king, or over him; and the Targum is, at the head of the king; the meaning is, how he could act such a part as to call so loud within the king's hearing, as to disturb the king's rest, and awake him out of his sleep.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 (Klmh la) "juxta regem", Vatablus
F20 Ceram rege, Nodlus, p. 58. No. 284.

1 Samuel 26:14 In-Context

12 So David took the spear and the water jug that were by Saul's head, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them, no one knew they were there, and no one woke up. All of them remained asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD had come over them.

13 David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of a hill with considerable distance between them.

14 Then David shouted to the army and to Abner, Ner's son, "Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?" "Who are you to shout to the king?" Abner asked.

15 David answered Abner, "You are a man, aren't you? And you have no equal in Israel, right? Then why haven't you kept watch over your master the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your master the king.

16 What you've done is terrible! As surely as the LORD lives, all of you are dead men because you didn't keep close watch over your master, the LORD's anointed. Have a look around! Where are the king's spear and the water jug that were by his head?"