2 Samuel 1:15

And David called one of the young men ,.... His servants that attended on him:

and said, go near, and fall upon him ; by smiting him with his sword:

and he smote him, that he died ; his orders were instantly obeyed. Kings and generals of armies had great power in those times and countries to execute a man immediately, without any other judge or jury: what may serve, or David might think would serve, to justify him in doing this, is what follows.