And David called one of the young men,.... His servants that attended on him:
and said, go near, [and] fall upon him; by smiting him with his sword:
and he smote him, that he died; his orders were instantly obeyed. Kings and generals of armies had great power in those times and countries to execute a man immediately, without any other judge or jury: what may serve, or David might think would serve, to justify him in doing this, is what follows.