And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
And ... cried to the people - (see the note at Judges 9:7.) The extraordinary purity and elasticity of the air in Palestine enable words to be distinctly heard that are addressed by speakers from the top of one hill to people on that of another, from which it is separated by a deep intervening ravine. Hostile parties can thus speak to each other while completely beyond the reach of each other's attack. It results from the special features of the country in many of the mountain districts.