1 Samuel 26

1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before the wasteland?”

2Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him were three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite 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 scouts, and he learned that Saul had indeed come.

5Then David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped, and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, and the people were camped around him.

6Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul, to the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

7So David and Abishai came to the troops by night, and behold, Saul was lying asleep within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the troops were lying around him.

8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. So now, please let me pin him to the earth with the spear in one blow, 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 Yahweh’s anointed and remain guiltless?”

10And David said, “As Yahweh lives, surely Yahweh will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.”

11Far be it from me, by Yahweh, to stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed. But 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 beside Saul’s head, and they went away. No one saw it, and no one knew it, and no one awoke, for they were all sleeping, because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.

13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain at a distance; there was a great space between them.

14Then David called to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling to the king?”

15David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over 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 Yahweh lives, you are sons of death, because you did not keep watch over your master, over Yahweh’s anointed. And now, look—where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were by his head?

17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”

18And he said, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant like this? 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 Yahweh has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is men, they are cursed before Yahweh, because they have driven me out today from having a share in Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

20So now, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of Yahweh, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.

21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have acted foolishly and have gone badly astray.”

22David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and take it.”

23And Yahweh will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, because Yahweh gave you into my hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.

24And look, just as your life was precious in my eyes this day, so may my life be precious in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he deliver me from all distress.

25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David. You will surely do, and you will surely prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.