1 Samuel 26:13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-20

David having got safely from Saul's camp himself, and having brought with him proofs sufficient that he had been there, posts himself conveniently, so that they might hear him and yet not reach him (1 Sam. 26:13), and then begins to reason with them upon what had passed. I. He reasons ironically with Abner, and keenly banters him. David knew well that it was from the mighty power of God that Abner and the rest of the guards were cast into so deep a sleep, and that God's immediate hand was in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 ויעבר העבר "et transivit transitum", Montanus. , 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 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9. 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-16

The top of a hill. Hebrew, "the top of the hill," the particular mountain from which David had reconnoitred Saul's camp ( 1 Samuel 26:5 ). A great space being between them. At En-gedi Saul was alone, and had placed himself in David's power; he therefore had followed him closely. Here Saul had his army round him, and David had entered his camp by stealth. It is not, therefore, till he had placed an ample interval between them that he calls to Abner , and asks in derision, Art thou not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-25

Afflictions and righteousness. The facts are— 1 . David seeks to arouse the attention of Saul by an appeal to Abner, blended with reproof of his negligence. 2 . Saul, on recognising David's voice, is answered by him in terms expressive of loyal homage. 3 . David appeals to Saul with respect to his conduct, pointing out its harshness and unreasonableness. 4 . Saul, valuing his own life just spared, admits the force of the plea, and promises to desist from persecution. 5 ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 26:13-14

1 Samuel 26:13-14. And stood on the top of a hill On such a rock or precipice that there was no coming to him but by taking a circuit round. So that it might be said, in respect of the way whereby only they could come to him, that he stood afar off, and that there was a great distance between them; and yet, though his person might thus be out of their reach, his voice might be distinctly heard, which in a clear air, and in the silence of the night, it might be at a considerable distance. ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

The move to Philistia (26:1-27:12)Although he had every intention of killing Nabal, David still refused to harm Saul; but Saul remained determined to harm David (26:1-5). When another opportunity arose to kill Saul, David refused to act. He was content to leave the matter with God, who would remove Saul when he saw fit (6-12).Once again David produced proof that he had no evil intentions towards Saul (13-17). But clearly David was becoming tired of this continual flight from the mad king. Not... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:13

DAVID REBUKED ABNER; SAUL'S GENERAL"Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them; 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"? 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... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 26:13

13-20. Then David . . . stood on the top of an hill afar off . . . and cried to the people—(See on :-). The extraordinary purity and elasticity of the air in Palestine enable words to be distinctly heard that are addressed by a speaker from the top of one hill to people on that of another, from which it is separated by a deep intervening ravine. Hostile parties can thus speak to each other, while completely beyond the reach of each other's attack. It results from the peculiar features of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 26:13-16

David’s rebuke of Abner 26:13-16David crossed a ravine to put some distance between himself and Saul. David addressed Abner because he was responsible for leaving the Lord’s anointed unprotected. The person who came to destroy Saul was Abishai (1 Samuel 26:15; cf. 1 Samuel 26:8). David, rather than Saul’s bodyguard Abner, was responsible for sparing his life. Abner deserved to die for his failure in duty, but David spared his life too. David more faithfully defended Saul’s life than even Saul’s... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

David spares Saul’s Life a Second Time1. Hachilah] near the wilderness of Ziph: see 1 Samuel 23:19. 4. Was come in very deed] Heb. ’was come to Nakon.’ Nakon = ’a set place’ (RM), though it may have been the corruption of a place-name, such as Maon.6. Hittite] So he belonged to one of the original inhabitants of the country. We might expect to find some of them among David’s followers: cp. 1 Samuel 22:2. Uriah, another Hittite, played an important part in David’s history. Abishai] is here... read more