שמואל א, פרק כ״ב, פסוק י״ז

A dramatic breaking point in the kingdom occurs when King Saul orders the execution of God's priests on charges of treason, only to face unprecedented defiance from his own loyal men. Saul directs his royal guards to turn and kill the priests [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A Midrashic tradition suggests this command was also aimed at senior military leaders, Abner and Amasa. Because these men were high-ranking generals rather than ordinary soldiers, the order is understood as applying to both the royal guards and the top officers present [רד״ק].

Saul levels a twofold accusation against the priests. First, he claims they are active partners in David's plans and schemes [מצודת דוד]. Second, he argues that even if they lacked the power to stop David, they knew he was fleeing and failed to report it to the crown, an omission that alone warrants the death penalty [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In reality, the priests likely had no knowledge of any conflict. They would have viewed David's visit as a completely innocent event, assuming they were simply not privy to the confidential affairs of the kingdom [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Despite a direct royal decree, the king's servants refuse to harm the priests. This unprecedented disobedience stems from two primary motives. On a moral and factual level, the soldiers feared striking down the holy priests of God. They clearly saw that the king's accusations were entirely false and that the priests were not involved in any rebellion [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, their refusal was rooted in a legal principle derived from the Book of Joshua. While defying a king normally carries the death penalty, this rule is suspended if a monarch orders a person to commit a sin. Under such circumstances, the royal command is completely void, and obedience is strictly forbidden [רש״י, רד״ק].