Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;
"As the Lord lives, (Abner) you deserve to die."  (1 Samuel 26:16)  Of course, David very well knew that the hand of God was in Abner's failure; but, as Keil wrote, "These words were designed to show Saul (who heard them) that David was the most faithful defender of the king's life, even more faithful than his closest friend and most zealous servant."[12]