1 Samuel 26 14

1 Samuel 26:14 kjv

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

1 Samuel 26:14 nkjv

And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you, calling out to the king?"

1 Samuel 26:14 niv

He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

1 Samuel 26:14 esv

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 who calls to the king?"

1 Samuel 26:14 nlt

Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, "Wake up, Abner!" "Who is it?" Abner demanded.

1 Samuel 26 verses

1 Samuel 26 14 Meaning

1 Samuel 26:14 records David's public challenge to Abner, the commander of King Saul's army. Having entered Saul's camp stealthily and taken Saul's spear and water jug while everyone slept, David now calls out to Abner from a distance. The verse specifically captures David's confrontational and rhetorical question, "Will you not answer, Abner?" This question highlights Abner's utter failure in his primary duty: to guard King Saul. David, though being pursued as an enemy, dramatically exposes Abner's negligence and incompetence, thereby demonstrating his own non-violent intent towards Saul and the Lord's protective hand over both himself and even, ironically, Saul.

1 Samuel 26 14 Context

This verse is part of a crucial episode in the narrative of David's life, found in 1 Samuel chapter 26. It marks the second instance where David has an opportunity to kill King Saul, who relentlessly pursues him out of jealousy, but chooses not to. After learning that Saul is again seeking his life, David infiltrates Saul's sleeping camp at night with Abishai. They find Saul asleep with Abner and his army camped around him. Abishai urges David to kill Saul, but David refuses, stating that he will not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed, leaving Saul's fate to God. Instead, David takes Saul's spear and water jug, which were resting near his head, as proof of his entry and Saul's vulnerability.

Verse 14 immediately follows this clandestine act. David and Abishai leave the camp and ascend a nearby hill, creating a safe distance between themselves and Saul's forces. From this elevated position, David boldly shouts to Saul's army, and specifically calls out Abner. His actions and words serve to publicly expose Abner's failure to protect the king, demonstrating David's proximity, Saul's extreme vulnerability, and David's respect for God's anointed one—even while being relentlessly persecuted by him. This public shaming underscores Abner's professional negligence and provides undeniable evidence of David's actions without resorting to violence against the king.

1 Samuel 26 14 Word analysis

• And David called:
  • "called" (Heb. קָרָא - qara): This word signifies more than a whisper; it means to summon, proclaim, or cry out. It indicates a loud, public, and deliberate act of communication. David isn't merely muttering or talking to himself; he is purposefully projecting his voice to ensure he is heard by a large group, initiating a confrontation. The active voice highlights David's bold and strategic move.
• to the people:
  • "the people" (Heb. הָעָם - ha'am): This refers to the collective army or multitude gathered in Saul's camp. David's address is not solely to Abner but to the entire encampment. This makes the rebuke public, ensuring witnesses to Abner's dereliction of duty and to David's non-aggressive intent. It signifies an act of public shaming and a declaration of his own righteousness before many.
• and to Abner:
  • "Abner" (Heb. אַבְנֵר - Avner): Abner was Saul's cousin and the commander of his army (1 Sam 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). As the king's chief general, he held direct responsibility for Saul's safety. Singling out Abner emphasizes his personal accountability and professional failure as the appointed guardian. David targets the very one whose specific duty it was to prevent such a breach.
• saying:
  • "saying" (Heb. לֵאמֹר - lemor): This word is a common introductory particle in Hebrew that signals that direct speech is about to follow. It connects David's initial action of calling out to the specific words he utters.
• "Will you not answer, Abner?":
  • "Will you not answer" (Heb. הֲלֹא תַעֲנֶה - halo ta'aneh): This is a forceful rhetorical question. The particle halo (הֲלֹא) expects a negative answer, making it an emphatic challenge. Ta'aneh (תַעֲנֶה) comes from the root anah (עָנָה), meaning "to answer, respond, account for, or testify." David is essentially saying, "Aren't you going to respond to this gross negligence? Don't you have an answer for why the king was so vulnerable?" The implied meaning is that Abner cannot answer adequately because he was derelict in his duty. It serves as an indictment of his vigilance and competence.
  • "Abner?": The direct re-invocation of Abner's name in the question personalizes the rebuke further, forcing him to face his public humiliation.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And David called to the people and to Abner...": This phrase describes a calculated, dramatic, and public act of confrontation. David is not merely informing but challenging, using the entire camp as a witness to Abner's profound lapse in duty and, by extension, the insecurity of Saul's rule, despite his vast army. It signifies a strategic maneuver to clear his name and discredit Saul's ongoing pursuit.
• "...saying, 'Will you not answer, Abner?'": This question represents the climax of the confrontation. It's a cutting, sarcastic inquiry that underlines Abner's failure. It exposes Abner's lack of watchfulness and effective leadership, directly linking to his failure to protect the king, whose spear and jug David had just removed. It forces an implicit admission of guilt or incompetence without Abner needing to say a word.

1 Samuel 26 14 Bonus Section

• Dramatic Irony and Role Reversal: The entire episode, especially David's call to Abner, is rich in dramatic irony. David, the pursued "rebel," demonstrates more loyalty and protection towards Saul than Saul's own closest guard, Abner. The one who is supposedly trying to kill the king actually protects him, while the one entrusted with protection fails entirely. This public inversion of roles strongly suggests divine intervention on David's behalf.
• Symbolic Theft: The taking of Saul's spear and water jug is a highly symbolic act. The spear represented Saul's authority, military power, and kingship; the water jug was essential for life. Their removal from beside Saul's head signifies that David could have easily taken Saul's life and his kingship. Yet, by only taking the symbols, David sends a clear message of his ability to strike, combined with his decision not to. This served as undeniable proof without any bloodshed, preventing Saul from later denying David's presence.
• Wisdom of Confrontation: David's strategy of public confrontation, from a safe distance, prevents him from being entrapped or falsely accused of violence. It places Abner (and by extension, Saul) on the defensive, having to account for the lax security and implicitly, Saul's failed leadership that created such vulnerabilities. This bold move forces the issue of Saul's unjust pursuit of David into the light, even amongst Saul's own men.

1 Samuel 26 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 26:14 encapsulates David's remarkable composure, strategic brilliance, and deep theological convictions amidst intense persecution. Far from an impulsive act, David's public call to Abner is a calculated performance. First, it serves to publicly expose the negligence of Saul's general, Abner, thereby discrediting the efficacy of Saul's pursuit of David. If Abner cannot even guard his own king, how can he effectively hunt David? Second, David's actions reaffirm his own innocence and his continued reverence for Saul as God's anointed (even though Saul is God's rejected anointed). By merely taking a spear and a jug rather than Saul's life, David clearly demonstrates his benevolent intent and his commitment to allowing God, not violence, to determine the throne's succession.

The rhetorical question to Abner ("Will you not answer, Abner?") carries immense weight. It is a humiliating accusation, not merely of sleeping on duty, but of a profound professional failure that could have cost the king his life. Abner, the formidable general, is exposed as utterly inept at the most basic aspect of his role: protecting the king's person. This public shaming highlights David's confidence in his own righteous cause, trusting that the Lord protected both himself in entering the camp, and Saul in his sleep. The incident powerfully illustrates that the Lord was David's true shield (Ps 18:30) and the keeper of His anointed, regardless of human vigilance. It further underscores the contrast between Saul's dwindling spiritual perception and David's spiritual sensitivity and reliance on God's perfect timing for the kingship.