1 Samuel 26
26
David Again Spares Saul
1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?” 2So Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David [there] in the wilderness of Ziph. 3Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road east of Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came into the wilderness after him, 4David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. 5So David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped, and saw the spot where Saul lay, as well as Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying inside the circle of the camp, with the army camped around him.
6Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7So David and Abishai went to the army during the night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now then, please let me strike him with the spear driving it to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.” 9But David said to Abishai, “Do not kill him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed [king] and be guiltless (innocent)?” 10David also said, “As the Lord lives, most certainly the Lord will strike him [in His own time and way], or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be carried off [dead]. 11The Lord forbid that I would put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but now take the spear that is by his head and the jug of water, and let us go.” 12So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they left, and no one saw or knew nor did anyone awaken, because they were all sound asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain at a distance, with a large area between them. 14David called to the army and to Abner the son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls [and disturbs] the king?” 15David said to Abner, “Are you not a [brave] man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came [into your camp] to kill the king your lord. 16This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you surely #26:16 Lit are sons of death.deserve to die, because you have not guarded your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”
17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king!” 18And David said, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering [from me]; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, because they have driven me out this day to keep me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as when one hunts a [defenseless] partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Hear me, I have played the fool and have done a very great wrong [to you].” 22David answered, “Look, here is the king’s spear! Now let one of the young men come over and get it. 23The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord handed you over to me today, but I refused to put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24Now behold, just as your life was precious in my sight this day, so let my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may He rescue me from all distress.” 25Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will both accomplish much and certainly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
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1 Samuel 26
26
David Again Spares Saul
1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.” # 1Sm 23:19; Ps 54 title 2So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel, # 1Sm 13:2; 24:2 went to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 3Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah # 1Sm 24:3 opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him. # 1Sm 23:15 4So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come. 5Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, # 1Sm 14:50-51; 17:55 the general of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him. 6Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite # Gn 26:34; Jos 3:10; 1Kg 10:29; 2Kg 7:6 and Joab’s brother Abishai # 1Ch 2:15-16 son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp # Jdg 7:10-11 to Saul? ”
“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
7That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice! ”
9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless? ” # 1Sm 10:1; 24:6-7; 2Sm 1:14,16 10David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down: # 1Sm 25:26,38 either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. # Dt 32:35; 1Sm 24:6; 25:39; Rm 12:19 Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord # Gn 2:21; 15:12 came over them. 13David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. 14Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner? ”
“Who are you who calls to the king? ” Abner asked.
15David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed. # 1Sm 20:31 Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head? ”
17Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David? ” # 1Sm 24:16; 26:21,25
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. 18Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? # 1Sm 24:11 19Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, # 2Sm 16:11 then may He accept an offering. # Gn 8:21 But if it is people, # 1Sm 24:9 may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord saying, # Jos 22:25-27 ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a flea, # 1Sm 24:14 like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
21Saul responded, “I have sinned. # 1Sm 15:24,30; 24:17 Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness # 1Sm 24:19 and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today. # 1Sm 24:10-12; 26:10-11 24Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable # 1Sm 18:30 and rescue me from all trouble.” # Ps 54:7
25Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” # 1Sm 24:19 Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home. # 1Sm 24:22
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