1 Samuel

1 Samuel 26 ©

1 Saul, informed by the Ziphites of David's abode, cometh against him to Hachilah. 5 David coming into the trench findeth Saul and his servants asleep; he stayeth Abishai from killing Saul, but taketh his spear and cruse. 13 David reproveth Abner's negligence, protesteth his own innocency, and exhorteth Saul to desist from pursuing him. 21 Saul acknowledgeth his sin, and returneth home.

1

AND the aZiphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

a Jos. 15.55. ch. 23.19,20. Ps. 54, title. Ro. 3.15. Eze. 22.9. Le. 19.16. Pr. 18.8; 26.20,22.
2

Then bSaul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

b ch. 23.25; 24.17,2. Ps. 140.9; 38.12; 15.4.
3

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4

David therefore csent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

c Ps. 112.5. Ep. 5.15. Mat. 10.16. Jos. 2.1; 8.1.
5

¶And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, dand Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the 1trench, and the people pitched round about him.

d ch. 14.50; 17.55. 2Sa. 2.8.
6

Then answered David and said to eAhimelech the Hittite, and to fAbishai gthe son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go hdown with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

e Ge. 10.16; 15.20.
f 1Ch. 2.16. 2Sa. 2.18; 23.18; 16.9; 10.10,14; 18.12; 21.17.
g 2Sa. 3.39; 19.22.
h Ju. 7.9-11. ch. 14.6.
7

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay isleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

i 1Th. 5.2,3,7. v.12. ch. 19.13.
8

Then said Abishai to David, God hath 2delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9

And David said to Abishai, jDestroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?

j ch. 12.3; 24.6,7,10. 2Sa. 1.14,16.
10

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD kshall smite him; or lhis day shall come to die; or mhe shall descend into battle, and perish.

k ch. 25.38,39. Ps. 94.1. De. 32.35. Lu. 18.7. Re. 18.8.
l Job 7.1; 14.5. Ps. 37.10,13.
m De. 32.35. ch. 31.6. Ps. 49.11.
11

The nLORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the *cruse of water, and let us go.

n ch. 24.6,7. 2Sa. 1.14,16.
12

So David otook the spear and the *cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they *gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because pa deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

o ch. 24.4.
p Ge. 2.21; 15.12. Es. 6.1.
13

¶Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? qfor there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

q v.8
16

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are 3worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the *cruse of water that was at his bolster.

17

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, rIs this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

r ch. 24.16. Pr. 26.25.
18

And he said, sWherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

s ch. 24.9-11,12; 12.3; 20.1. Ps. 35.7; 7.3,11. Ac. 23.1; 24.16.
19

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, tlet him 4accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, ucursed be they before the LORD; for vthey have driven me out this day from 5abiding in wthe inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

t 2Sa. 16.11; 24.1.
u Ga. 5.12. Pr. 6.16,19.
v Ps. 42.1,2; 84.2; 120.5. Ro. 14.15. Jos. 22.25,27.
w 2Sa. 14.16; 20.19.
20

Now therefore, xlet not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to yseek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

x ch. 2.9; 25.29.
y ch. 24.14.
21

¶Then zsaid Saul, aI have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

a ch. 15.24.
z Ex. 9.27. ch. 24.17; 27.4. Mat. 27.4.
22

And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23

The bLORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but cI would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.

b Ne. 13.14. Is. 3.10,11. Ps. 7.8; 18.20. Ro. 2.6-10.
c ch. 24.6,7. v.9,11.
24

And, behold, das thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

d Ps. 18.25. Ac. 14.22. 2Co. 1.10. 1Co. 10.13. Is. 46.3,4; 63.9; 41.10,13-16.
25

Then Saul said to David, eBlessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. fSo David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

e Ru. 2.20.
f Pr. 26.25. ch. 24.22. Jn. 2.24.