MPV Commentary

Saul lay in the trench, surrounded by his people who had pitched their tents around him in a circular formation. The spear stuck in the ground near Saul indicated his position as the leader.

Abishai urged David to strike down Saul, saying God had delivered their enemy into their hands. However, David refused, showing magnanimity and restraint despite Saul's cruelty and perfidy. As the sovereign, Saul was still entitled to respect, even if God had rejected him from the kingdom.

David directed Abishai to take some items that would show where they had been and what they had done, thus obtaining a victory over Saul without shedding his blood. This approach was in line with David's earlier decision to spare Nabal despite his refusal to pay tribute.

The spear at Saul's head and the cruse of water near him were typical features of an Arab sheikh's or Hebrew chief's camp. The cruse would have been a luxurious item, easily distinguishable from common ones due to its size or ornamentation.

David stood on a hill overlooking the encampment and called out to the people, his voice carrying clearly through the air. This was possible due to the unique features of the Palestinian landscape, where words can be heard from one hill to another across deep ravines.

David questioned Abner about his failure to protect the king, pointing out that he had managed to penetrate the center of the encampment undetected. David's sarcasm and expostulation were intended to soften Saul's heart and bring him back from his obdurate stance.

David suggested offering a sacrifice together with Saul to appease God's wrath against them, assuming their enmity was due to some malicious influence rather than Saul's own jealousy. This approach showed David's prudence and meekness in dealing with the situation.

However, David also acknowledged that Saul's actions were motivated by a desire to drive him into idolatry, just as one might hunt a partridge by pursuing it until it becomes exhausted and vulnerable to attack. Despite Saul's sudden change of heart, David remained cautious and kept his distance, awaiting the course of Providence.