1 Samuel 26:14

14 and David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you that calls to the king?"

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 jar of water from Saul's head; and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

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

14 and David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you that calls to the king?"

15 And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head."