1 Samuel 26
26
Once Again David Doesnāt Kill Saul When He Has the Chance
1Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said, āDavid is hiding on the hill of Hakilah. It faces Jeshimon.ā
2So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph. He took 3,000 of the best soldiers in Israel with him. They went to the desert to look for David. 3Saul set up his camp beside the road. It was on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon. But David stayed in the desert. He saw that Saul had followed him there. 4So he sent out scouts. From them he learned that Saul had arrived.
5Then David started out. He went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was camped all around him. Abner was commander of the army. He was the son of Ner.
6Then David spoke to Ahimelek, the Hittite. He also spoke to Joabās brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He asked them, āWho will go down with me into the camp to Saul?ā
āIāll go with you,ā said Abishai.
7So that night David and Abishai went into the camp. They found Saul lying asleep inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
8Abishai said to David, āToday God has handed your enemy over to you. So let me pin him to the ground. I can do it with one jab of the spear. I wonāt even have to strike him twice.ā
9But David said to Abishai, āDonāt destroy him! No one can do any harm to the Lordās anointed king and not be guilty. 10You can be sure that the Lord lives,ā he said. āAnd you can be just as sure that the Lord himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps heāll die a natural death. Or perhaps heāll go into battle and be killed. 11May the Lord keep me from doing anything to harm his anointed king. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head. Then letās leave.ā
12So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saulās head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw them. No one knew about what they had done. In fact, no one even woke up. Everyone was sleeping. Thatās because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13David went across to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of a hill far away from Saulās camp. There was a wide space between them. 14He called out to the army and to Abner, the son of Ner. He said, āAbner! Arenāt you going to answer me?ā
Abner replied, āWho is calling out to the king?ā
15David said, āYou are a great soldier, arenāt you? There isnāt anyone else like you in Israel. So why didnāt you guard the king? Heās your master, isnāt he? Someone came into the camp to destroy him. 16You didnāt guard him. And that isnāt good. You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that you and your men must die. Thatās because you didnāt guard your master. Heās the Lordās anointed king. Look around you. Where are the kingās spear and water jug that were near his head?ā
17Saul recognized Davidās voice. He said, āMy son David, is that your voice?ā
David replied, āYes it is, King Saul, my master.ā 18He continued, āWhy are you chasing me? What evil thing have I done? What am I guilty of? 19King Saul, please listen to what Iām saying. Was it the Lord who made you angry with me? If it was, may he accept my offering. Was it people who made you angry at me? If it was, may the Lord see them cursed. They have driven me today from my share of the Lordās land. By doing that, they might as well have said, āGo and serve other gods.ā 20Donāt spill my blood on the ground far away from where the Lord lives. King Saul, you have come out to look for nothing but a flea. Itās as if you were hunting a partridge in the mountains.ā
21Then Saul said, āI have sinned. My son David, come back. Today you thought my life was very special. So I wonāt try to harm you again. Iāve really acted like a foolish person. Iāve made a huge mistake.ā
22āHereās your spear,ā David answered. āSend one of your young men over to get it. 23The Lord rewards everyone for doing what is right and being faithful. He handed you over to me today. But I wouldnāt harm you. You are the Lordās anointed king. 24Today I thought your life had great value. In the same way, may the Lord think of my life as having great value. May he save me from all trouble.ā
25Then Saul said to David, āMay the Lord bless you, David my son. You will do great things. You will also have great success.ā
So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.
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1 Samuel 26: NIrV
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