שמואל א, פרק כ״ו, פסוק ט״ז

David issues a severe rebuke to Abner and the royal guards, holding them entirely responsible for leaving King Saul vulnerable. Rather than viewing their sleep as a simple oversight, their negligence is treated as a serious failure. David makes it clear that failing to act does not free a person from guilt. By neglecting to protect the king, the guards committed an active crime. The danger and potential harm caused by their lack of attention are viewed as being just as severe as if they had caused the harm with their own hands [מלבי״ם].

Consequently, David declares that the men deserve the death penalty for their failure [מצודת ציון]. While David begins his sharp criticism by speaking directly to Abner, he quickly shifts to addressing the group as a whole. This shift is done out of respect for the army commander, ensuring that the heavy sentence of death is directed at the entire unit of guards rather than solely at Abner [מצודת דוד].

To back up his harsh judgment, David presents undeniable proof. He challenges the guards to explain what happened to the king's spear and his water jug, both of which had been resting right next to the king's head [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. If the guards were truly doing their duty, David argues, it would be impossible for these items to vanish. The missing equipment serves as clear evidence that the king was left completely unprotected and exposed to real, life-threatening danger [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].