1 Samuel 26

Saul Again Pursues David

1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon?” 2So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is facing Jeshimon, beside the road. But David was staying in the wilderness. He saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness. 4David sent out spies and knew that Saul had surely come.

David Enters Saul’s Camp

5David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul lay and Abner son of Ner, commander of his army. Saul was lying within the camp circle, and the people were camped around him. 6David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul, to the camp?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul was lying asleep within the camp circle, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head. Abner and the people were lying around him.

David Refuses to Kill Saul

8Abishai said to David, “God has shut your enemy into your hand this day. And now please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him a second time.” 9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be innocent?” 10David said, “As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away. 11Far be it from me by the LORD that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. And now, please take the spear that is at 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 one saw, no one knew, and no one awakened, for all of them were sleeping because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

David Rebukes Abner

13David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain at a distance. There was much space between them. 14David called to the people and to Abner son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner answered and said, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord. 16This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you are sons of death because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

David Appeals to Saul

17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18He said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? And what evil is in my hand? 19And now, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let him smell an offering. But if it is human beings, cursed are they before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20And now, 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 seek one flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

Saul Confesses Again

21Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no longer do you harm because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have acted foolishly and have erred exceedingly.” 22David answered and said, “Look, the king’s spear. Let one of the young men cross over and take it. 23The LORD will return to each man his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24And look, as your life was great in my eyes this day, so may my life be great in the eyes of the LORD, and may he rescue me from every distress.” 25Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David. You will surely do and surely prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.