Bible Strands
1 Samuel 26:14
And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David stands across a wide gulf on a distant mountain and shouts to Saul’s troops and to Abner, the commander. (1 Samuel 26:13; 1 Samuel 26:15)
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּקְרָא (va-yiqrāʾ) literally means “he called out” or “shouted,” denoting a loud, public address rather than a private summons.
The thread — This public challenge occurs immediately after David positions himself at a distance in 1 Samuel 26:13 and directly triggers his follow-up rebuke in 1 Samuel 26:15.
Why it lands — The text records Abner’s reply, “Who are you who calls to the king?” which establishes a factual dispute over identity and authority before any theological conclusion is drawn.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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?