The assassination of the kingdom's primary military and political pillar sends shockwaves through both the leadership and the general public. This event marks the final collapse of any hope the House of Saul had to withstand David's rising power. The current ruler is referred to not by his own name, but simply as the son of Saul. Omitting his name highlights a severe decline in his public standing [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. With his commander gone, he possesses no independent strength; his sole remaining claim to the throne rests entirely on his lineage [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, being identified merely as his father's son suggests that the bitter fate of Saul continues to pursue him as well [אברבנאל].
His immediate reaction is a complete loss of physical strength, reflecting profound weakness and utter despair [מצודת ציון]. This hopelessness stems from the stark realization that his top general was the single force holding the kingdom together. Without him, there is no one left capable of commanding the army or stabilizing the government [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
At the same time, the broader public is thrown into a state of panic. Primarily, the people recognize that without their military leader, the remnants of Saul's kingdom have absolutely no chance of surviving against David [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond the military disadvantage, the nation is gripped by deep anxiety and confusion regarding the circumstances of the murder. Since it was widely known that a peace agreement had just been reached with David, a heavy suspicion arises that David himself orchestrated the assassination. As a result, the people fear that David might soon take violent revenge on them as well [מצודת דוד]. The nation is torn between conflicting thoughts. Some question why David would eliminate a rival who had just defected to his side. Conversely, those who believe in David's innocence are baffled as to why he refrains from punishing the actual murderers. This thick cloud of uncertainty and the inability to uncover the truth are the root causes of the widespread panic [אברבנאל]. Ultimately, these deep-seated fears prevent the people from immediately crowning David as their new king. It is only at a later stage, when David definitively proves his innocence by executing the men who eventually murder Saul's son, that the nation's trust is restored [מצודת דוד].