1 Samuel 26
26
David Again Spares Saul
1Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “Isn’t David hiding on the hill of Hachilah which faces Jeshimon?”
2So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, 3,000 chosen men of Israel with him, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah which faces Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness.
4So David sent out spies and realized that Saul had already arrived.
5Then David got up and went to the place where Saul had camped. David detected the spot where Saul lay asleep, as well as Abner son of Ner his army commander. Saul was lying inside the barricade and the troops were camped around him.
6Then David spoke and asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go down with you,” Abishai answered.
7So David and Abishai approached the troops by night. Behold, Saul was lying asleep within the barricade with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the troops were sleeping around him.
8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Now let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust of the spear. I will not have to strike him twice.”
9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! For who can lay his hand on Adonai’s anointed and be guiltless?”
10David added, “As Adonai lives, either Adonai will strike him down, or his day will come to die, or he will go down to battle and be swept away.
11Adonai forbid that I should lay my hand on Adonai’s anointed! Now, just take the spear that is at his head and the water jar and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and the water jar from beside Saul’s head. They got away—and no one saw it, or knew it, or woke up—for all were asleep, for a deep sleep from Adonai had fallen upon them.
13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of a distant hill with a wide space between them.
14David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner saying, “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered saying, “Who are you, who called out to the king?”
15“Aren’t you a man?” David said to Abner. “Indeed, who is like you in Israel? So, why didn’t you guard your lord the king? For one of the troops came in to kill the king your lord.
16This thing that you’ve done is no good. As Adonai lives, all of you deserve to die, because you have not kept watching over your lord, Adonai’s anointed. So now, look around, where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were at his head?”
17Saul then recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord the king,” David said,
18then added, “Yet why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19Now please, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If Adonai has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if men have done so, then cursed are they before Adonai, because they have now driven me out that I would not cling to Adonai’s inheritance, saying: ‘Go, worship other gods.’
20So now, let not my blood fall to the ground, away from the presence of Adonai. For the king of Israel has come out to search for but a single flea, just as one hunts for a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned! Return, David my son, for I will no longer do you harm, since my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I’ve played the fool and erred so seriously.”
22David then answered and said, “There is the king’s spear! Let one of the young men cross over and take it.
23Adonai will repay everyone his righteousness and his faithfulness. For Adonai gave you into my hand today, but I refused to lay my hand on Adonai’s anointed.
24See, just as your life was highly valued in my eyes today, so let my life be highly valued in Adonai’s eyes, and may He deliver me from all trouble.”
25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, David my son! You will both do mightily and will surely prevail.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Currently Selected:
1 Samuel 26: TLV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.