1Sam 26
1
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth not David hide himself in
the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?'
2
Then Saul 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.
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 sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
5
And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched; and David beheld the
place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host; and Saul
lay within the barricade, and the people pitched round about him.
6
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah,
brother to Joab, saying: 'Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?' And Abishai
said: 'I will go down with thee.'
7
So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within
the barricade, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people
lay round about him.
8
Then said Abishai to David: 'God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this
day; now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one
stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.'
9
And David said to Abishai: 'Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against
the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?'
10
And David said: 'As the LORD liveth, nay, but the LORD shall smite him; or his day
shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle, and be swept away.
11
The LORD forbid it me, that I should put forth my hand against the LORD'S anointed;
but now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water and
let us go.'
12
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and they got them
away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep;
because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
13
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain 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 watch over thy lord the king? for there came one
of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye deserve to die,
because ye have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see,
where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.'
17
And Saul knew David's voice, and said: 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' And David
said: 'It is my voice, my lord, O king.'
18
And he said: 'Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done?
or what evil is in my hand?
19
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If
it be the LORD that hath stirred thee up against me, let Him accept an offering; but
if it be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven
me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of the LORD, saying:
Go, serve other gods.
20
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD;
for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when one doth hunt a
partridge in the mountains.'
21
Then said Saul: 'I have sinned; return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm,
because my life was precious in thine eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool
and erred exceedingly.'
22
And David answered and said: 'Behold the king's spear! let then one of the young men
come over and fetch it.
23
And the LORD will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch
as the LORD delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand
against the LORD'S anointed.
24
And, behold, as 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.'
25
Then Saul said to David: 'Blessed be thou, my son David; thou shalt both do mightily,
and shalt surely prevail.' So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.