Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 26:15
And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
15. a [ valiant ] man ] Heb. simply, a man, i.e. one worthy of the name.
who is like to thee in Israel ] Abner was evidently the most powerful man in Saul’s court. His course of action after Saul’s death shews plainly the influence he had gained.
kept ] i.e. kept guard over.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This incidental testimony to Abners great eminence as a warrior is fully borne out by Davids dirge at Abners death 2Sa 3:31-34, 2Sa 3:38, as well as by his whole history. At the same time Davids bantering tone in regard to Abner, coupled with what he says in 1Sa 26:19, makes it proable that David attributed Sauls persecution of him in some degree to Abner. Abner would be likely to dread a rival in the young conqueror of Judah (compare 2Sa 2:8).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. Art not thou a valiant man?] This is a strong irony. Ye are worthy to die; ye are sons of death – ye deserve death for this neglect of your king. And had not Saul been so deeply affected with David’s generosity in preserving his life, he had doubtless put Abner and his chief officers to death; though they were not to blame, as their apparent neglect was the effect of a supernatural sleep.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Who is like to thee, for courage and conduct? and therefore thy fault herein is the greater.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. David said to Abner, Art notthou a valiant man: . . . wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lordthe king?The circumstance of David having penetrated to thecenter of the encampment, through the circular rows of the sleepingsoldiers, constituted the point of this sarcastic taunt. This newevidence of David’s moderation and magnanimous forbearance, togetherwith his earnest and kindly expostulation, softened the obduracy ofSaul’s heart.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And David said to Abner, [art] not thou a [valiant] man?…. Or a man u, a man of great fame for courage and valour, a man of great authority, who had the next post in the army under Saul, but had not behaved like a man, worthy of his character and office:
and who [is] like to thee in Israel? none that bare so great a name, or was in so high an office, who therefore should have been careful to have acted according to both:
wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? took care to have set a guard about his person while he slept; which perhaps was neglected through a contempt of David and his men, as being in no fear of them:
for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord; that is, there had been one in the camp that night, who had entered there with that view to have destroyed him, had he an opportunity, and which did offer; this was true of Abishai, who no doubt went down with David into the camp with that intent, though David did not, and therefore he says, “one of the people”, not more; for though two went in, only one with that view: David observes to them the danger the king was in, his carefulness of him to preserve his life, to whom only it was owing, and the negligence of Abner, and those under his command.
u “vir”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) A valiant man.The English translators have rightly emphasised the Hebrew ish here by rendering a valiant man. Ish was used not unfrequently in this nobler sense; so in Psa. 49:2, when the bne adam, as the poor mean ones, were contrasted with the bne ish, the noble ones. (See also Isa. 2:9 : mean men and great men.)
Wherefore then hast thou not kept?The whole of this bitter sarcastic address seems to imply that a deadly feud existed between David and Sauls captain and kinsman, Abner. If this be the case, the royal generosity and nobility of Davids character was well shown in his subsequent friendship with this Abner, and in his deep sorrow for the great captains untimely death. (See 2 Samuel 3)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 26:15. David said to Abner, Art not thou, &c. It may be asked, how could David make Abner and Saul hear, as it appears from the 13th verse that there was a great distance between them? The answer is easy. To ascend from one high hill to another, requires time; and in this sense, however adjacent, the two hills are remote. Time and pains are required to go from one to the other; but not so to make oneself heard.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 26:15 And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
Ver. 15. Art not thou a valiant man? ] Heb., A man, that is, a man every inch of thee? and hast thou not played the man in guarding thy sovereign so carefully? If Philip sleep, should not Antipater watch the while? Lilloe slept between the murderer and King Edwin his master, to intercept the deadly thrust intended and aimed at the heart of his sovereign. a
a Speed.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew. ‘ish, App-14. not. Hebrew. ‘el. (Hypothetical.)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
there came: 1Sa 26:8
Reciprocal: Dan 4:19 – My Lord Mat 26:40 – What
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 26:15-17. Wherefore hast thou not kept, &c. Observed better military discipline for the preservation of the kings person? There came one of the people Into the kings camp, and had a fair opportunity to destroy him. Because ye have not kept your master Guarded him better from any danger. It is probable they despised Davids small forces, and, therefore, were so negligent. It is my voice, my lord, O king He still acknowledges Sauls authority, and the allegiance he owed him, though he had done him so many injuries.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
26:15 And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] {f} man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
(f) Esteemed most valiant and fit to save the king?