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.
Currently Selected:
1 Samuel 26: ESV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV:
1 Samuel 26
26
David and Abishai Enter Saul’s Camp
1The people of Ziph went to see Saul at Gibeah and said to him, “David is hiding on Hakilah Hill, across from Jeshimon.”
2Saul gathered 3000 of the best soldiers in Israel and went down to the desert of Ziph to search for David there. 3Saul set up his camp by the road at Hakilah Hill, across from Jeshimon.
David was out in the desert and saw that Saul had come out into the desert after him. 4So David sent out spies to know for certain that Saul had come after him again. 5Then David went to where Saul had set up his camp. David saw where Saul and Abner were sleeping. (Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul’s army.) Saul was sleeping in the center of a circle of men that surrounded him.
6David talked to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah. (Abishai was Joab’s brother.) He asked them, “Who would like to go down into the camp with me after Saul?”
Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”
7When night came, David and Abishai went into Saul’s camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the circle of men. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the other soldiers were asleep around Saul. 8Abishai said to David, “Today God has given your enemy to you. Let me pin Saul to the ground with his spear. I’ll only do it once!”
9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill Saul! Anyone who hurts the Lord’s chosen king#26:9 chosen king Literally, “anointed one.” Also in verses 16, 23. must be punished. 10As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will punish Saul. Maybe Saul will die naturally or maybe he will be killed in battle. 11But I pray that the Lord never lets me hurt the Lord’s chosen king. Now pick up the spear and water jug by Saul’s head and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head, and then David and Abishai left Saul’s camp. No one knew what had happened. No one saw it. No one even woke up. Saul and all of his soldiers slept because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
David Shames Saul Again
13David crossed over to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of the mountain across the valley from Saul’s camp. David and Saul’s camp were far apart. 14David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Answer me, Abner!”
Abner answered, “Who are you? Why are you calling the king?”
15David said, “You are an important man, aren’t you? You are better than any other man in Israel. Is that right? So why didn’t you guard your master, the king? An ordinary man came into your camp to kill your master, the king. 16You made a big mistake. As surely as the Lord is alive, you and your men should die, because you didn’t protect your master, the Lord’s chosen king. Look for the king’s spear and the water jug that was near Saul’s head. Where are they?”
17Saul knew David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David answered, “Yes, it is my voice, my lord the king. 18Sir, why are you chasing me? What wrong have I done? What am I guilty of? 19My lord the king, listen to me. If the Lord caused you to be angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if men caused you to be angry with me, I ask the Lord to curse them because they forced me to leave the land that the Lord gave me and told me to go serve other gods. 20Now don’t make me die far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea. You are like a man hunting partridges in the mountains.”#26:20 hunting partridges in the mountains People hunted these birds until the birds became too tired to go on. Then they killed the birds. Saul was chasing David the same way. This is also a wordplay. The Hebrew word for “partridge” is like the word for “calling” in verse 14.
21Then Saul said, “David, my son! I have sinned. Come back. Today you showed me that my life is important to you, so I won’t try to hurt you. I have acted foolishly. I have made a big mistake.”
22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of your young men come here and get it. 23The Lord pays every man for what he does—he rewards him if he does right, and he punishes him if he does wrong. The Lord gave you to me today, but I wouldn’t harm the Lord’s chosen king. 24Today I showed you that your life is important to me. In the same way the Lord will show that my life is important to him. He will save me from every trouble.”
25Then Saul said to David, “God bless you, David my son. You will do great things and you will win.”
David went on his way, and Saul went back home.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International