1 Samuel Chapter 26

David Spares Saul’s Life Again

¹ The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding on the Hill of Hachilah east of Jeshimon?” ² Saul went down to the Wilderness of Ziph with 3,000 chosen men to look for him. ³ He camped on the Hill of Hachilah beside the road east of Jeshimon. David was staying in the open country. When he saw that Saul had come after him, ⁴ he sent out spies to make sure that Saul was coming. ⁵ He went to where Saul and his men had camped and saw where he lay beside Abner son of Ner, his general. The army was asleep around him.

⁶ David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” Abishai said, “I’ll go.” ⁷ They went down at night. Saul was sleeping inside the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head.    

1 Sam 26:1-7

⁸ Abishai told David, “God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke. I won’t strike him a second time.”

⁹ But David said,

“Don’t destroy him. Who can kill the LORD’s anointed and not be guilty? ¹⁰ As sure as the LORD lives, he’ll strike him, or he’ll die, or he’ll go down in battle. ¹¹ The LORD forbid that I should kill him. Take the spear by his head and the jug of water, and let’s go.”

¹² David left with the spear and jug. Nobody saw or knew anything. Nobody woke up. A sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them all.     

1 Sam 26:8-12

¹³ David crossed back over to the other side and stood on top of the hill a good way off. ¹⁴ He shouted to the army and to Abner, “Won’t you answer, Abner?”

Abner said, “Who are you, shouting to the king?”

¹⁵ David asked him,

“Aren’t you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why not protect the king? Someone came over to destroy him. ¹⁶ What you’ve done isn’t good. As sure as the LORD lives, you all need to die; you didn’t protect the LORD’s anointed. See the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head.”                                                      1 Sam 26:13-16 

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice, “Is that you, my son?”

 David said,

“It’s me, my lord the king. ¹⁸ Why are you chasing me? What have I done? ¹⁹ If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it’s people, they’re accursed by the LORD, because they’ve driven me out from the LORD’s inheritance and told me to go serve other gods. ²⁰ Don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the LORD’s presence. You’ve come out to look for a single flea, like somebody hunting a partridge in the hills.”

²¹ Saul said, “I’ve sinned. Go on back home. I won’t try to harm you again because you’ve valued my life today. I’ve played the fool and made a serious mistake.”

²² David answered,

“The king’s spear! Have one of the young men come and get it. ²³ The LORD will repay each man for his goodness and faithfulness. He delivered you to me, and I refused to reach out against you. ²⁴ As I highly valued your life today, so may the LORD highly value my life and deliver me from all distress.”

²⁵ Saul said, “You’re blessed, son. You’ll accomplish a lot and certainly end up winning.”

David went on his way, and Saul went home.                                                

1 Sam 26:17-25