1 Samuel 26:13

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;

1 Samuel 26:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:13

Then David went over to the other side
To a hill on the other side, opposite to Hachilah, where Saul lay encamped; or "passed over the passage" ^F17, the valley that lay between the two hills, and perhaps passed over a brook that ran in the valley, which is not unusual; so Josephus ^F18 says, that he went over a brook and came to the top of a mountain:

and stood on the top of an hill afar off;
he chose the top of an hill, that his voice might be heard at a distance, as it might in a clear air, and still night; and to be afar off, that he might the better make his escape, should an attempt be made to pursue him:

a great space [being] between them;
a large valley lying between the two hills.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (rbeh rbeyw) "et transivit transitum", Montanus.
F18 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9.

1 Samuel 26:13 In-Context

11 The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD's anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.

12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Sha'ul's head; and they got them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen on them.

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;

14 and David cried to the people, and to Aviner the son of Ner, saying, Don't you answer, Aviner? Then Aviner answered, Who are you who cries to the king?

15 David said to Aviner, Aren't you a [valiant] man? and who is like you in Yisra'el? why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.