1 Samuel 26:14
“and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Don’t you answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who cries to the king?””
What does 1 Samuel 26:14 mean?
David is calling out to Abner, the military commander of King Saul, in a moment of dramatic tension. David had just snuck into Saul's camp at night and taken the king's spear while everyone slept, proving he could have killed Saul but chose not to. Now he's making his point public by shouting across the camp, essentially saying, "Abner, why didn't you protect your king? I could have ended him." Abner's confused response, asking who's calling out, shows that David has caught him completely off guard and exposed a serious failure in his duty as commander. This scene reveals David's character: even when he has every reason for revenge, he instead publicly demonstrates his restraint and loyalty, hoping to convince Saul that he's no threat.