1 Samuel 26
26
David Spares Saul Again
1 # ch. 23:19; See Ps. 54 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” 2So Saul arose and went down to #ch. 23:14 the wilderness of Ziph with #ch. 24:2three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 5Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with #ch. 14:50; 17:55; 2 Sam. 2:8 Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within #ch. 17:20the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
6Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother #2 Sam. 2:18; 3:39; 16:10; 19:22; 1 Chr. 2:16 Abishai the son of Zeruiah, #[Judg. 7:9-11]“Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within #[See ver. 5 above] the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground #ver. 11, 16at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, #[ch. 24:4, 18]“God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand #ver. 11, 16, 23; ch. 24:6, 10; [2 Sam. 1:16]against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10And David said, #[Ruth 3:13] “As the Lord lives, #[ch. 25:38] the Lord will strike him, or #[Gen. 47:29; Deut. 31:14] his day will come to die, #ch. 31:6or he will go down into battle and perish. 11#ch. 24:6 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is #ver. 7, 16at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because #Gen. 2:21; 15:12a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
13Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16This thing that you have done is not good. #[Ruth 3:13] As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was #ver. 7, 11at his head.”
17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, #ch. 24:16“Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18And he said, #ch. 24:9, 11“Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, #[Ps. 120:5] for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in #2 Sam. 14:16; 20:19; 21:3the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek #ch. 24:14a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, #ch. 15:24; [ch. 24:17, 18]“I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23#[Ps. 7:8; 18:20]The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will #[Gen. 32:28]succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Sh'mu'el Alef (1 Sa) 26
26
1The people from Zif went to Sha’ul in Giv‘ah and said, “David is hiding himself on Hakhilah Hill, across from Yeshimon.” 2Then Sha’ul set out and went down to the Zif Desert with three thousand men chosen from Isra’el, to search for David in the Zif Desert. 3Sha’ul pitched camp on Hakhilah Hill, across from Yeshimon, near the road. David was staying in the desert, and he saw that Sha’ul was coming into the desert after him. 4So David dispatched spies and determined that Sha’ul had definitely come.
5David set out and went to where Sha’ul had pitched his camp. He saw where Sha’ul and Avner the son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping. Sha’ul was lying inside the barricade with the troops asleep all around him. 6David said to Achimelekh the Hitti and Avishai the son of Tz’ruyah, Yo’av’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Sha’ul in the camp?” Avishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7So David and Avishai went to the soldiers by night. Sha’ul was lying there asleep inside the barricade. His spear was stuck in the ground next to his head, with Avner and the troops asleep all around him. 8Avishai said to David, “God has handed your enemy over to you today; so now, please, let me pin him to the ground with just one stroke of the spear. I won’t strike him a second time.” 9But David said to Avishai, “Don’t destroy him! Nobody can raise his hand against Adonai’s anointed without becoming guilty!” 10David then added, “As Adonai lives, Adonai will strike him down, or the day will come for him to die, or he will go down to battle and be swept away. 11Adonai forbid that I should raise my hand against Adonai’s anointed! But now, we’ll take the spear by his head and the jug of water, and get out of here.” 12So David took the spear and the water jug from Sha’ul’s head and got away. Nobody saw or knew about it, and no one awoke, because they were all asleep — a deep sleep from Adonai had fallen over them.
13David crossed to the other side and climbed to the top of the distant ridge, leaving a considerable space between them. 14Then David called out to the troops and to Avner the son of Ner. “Avner! Aren’t you going to answer?” Avner answered, “Who are you, calling to the king?” 15David said to Avner, “Aren’t you the brave one! Who is there in Isra’el to compare with you? So why haven’t you kept watch over your lord the king? Someone came in to kill the king, your lord! 16It’s not good, what you’ve done! As Adonai lives, you deserve to die; because you didn’t keep watch over your lord, Adonai’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was next to his head!”
17Sha’ul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord king!” 18and continued, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What evil am I planning? 19Please, now, may my lord the king hear what his servant is saying. If it is Adonai who has stirred you up against me, let him receive an offering. But if it’s human beings, then a curse on them before Adonai! — because, as things stand today, they have driven me out, so that I can no longer share in Adonai’s inheritance — they’ve said, ‘Go, serve other gods!’ 20Now don’t let my blood fall on the ground away from the presence of Adonai. The king of Isra’el has gone out in search of a single flea, as if he were hunting partridge in the mountains!”
21Then Sha’ul said, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you any longer, because you regarded my life as precious today. Yes, I have behaved like a fool. I was altogether in the wrong.” 22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Send one of the men over to bring it back. 23Adonai will give every person a reward suited to his uprightness and faithfulness. Adonai put you in my power today, but I would not raise my hand against Adonai’s anointed. 24Look: just as I put great value on your life today, so may my life be given great value by Adonai. May he deliver me from every kind of trouble!” 25Sha’ul answered David, “Blessings on you, my son David! No question that you will accomplish everything you set out to do!” So David went on his way, and Sha’ul returned to his place.
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