שמואל א, פרק כ״ה, פסוק י״ג

David reacts to a severe public insult with immediate and decisive action, organizing a response that blends military force with strict legal procedure. The command for the men to arm themselves is not merely a call to battle [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Rather, it functions as a formal legal ruling in a capital case. Because David was already anointed by a prophet and held the support of the people, he viewed himself as the rightful king. Therefore, when he was humiliated and dismissed as a mere slave, he judged the offender as a rebel against the crown, a crime punishable by death [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

The specific sequence of how the men prepare for this mission reveals a core principle in judging capital cases. The men arm themselves first, and only afterward does David do the same. By physically strapping on their weapons, each man casts a vote, expressing his legal opinion that the guilty party deserves death. As the chief judge, David waits until the very end to arm himself and show his agreement. This ensures a fair process; if he had acted first, his men might have been swayed by his authority and afraid to voice a different opinion [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Beyond this careful legal procedure, David's personal involvement also stems from intense anger. Even though he has more than enough men to carry out the mission without lifting a finger himself, his fury drives him to personally take up arms [רד״ק]. As the forces finally move out, they divide. Four hundred men march forward with David, while two hundred are left behind. The primary approach among commentators is that this remaining group is tasked with staying near the camp to carefully guard the tents and supplies while the main force carries out the punishment.