1 Samuel 26:14

14 Then David called out to the troops and to Avner the son of Ner. "Avner! Aren't you going to answer?" Avner answered, "Who are you, calling 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.

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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 from Sha'ul's head and got away. Nobody saw or knew about it, and no one awoke, because they were all asleep - a deep sleep from ADONAI had fallen over them.

13 David crossed to the other side and climbed to the top of the distant ridge, leaving a considerable space between them.

14 Then David called out to the troops and to Avner the son of Ner. "Avner! Aren't you going to answer?" Avner answered, "Who are you, calling to the king?"

15 David said to Avner, "Aren't you the brave one! Who is there in Isra'el to compare with you? So why haven't you kept watch over your lord the king? Someone came in to kill the king, your lord!

16 It's not good, what you've done! As ADONAI lives, you deserve to die; because you didn't keep watch over your lord, ADONAI's anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is, and the jug of water that was next to his head!"