1Sam 26
1
And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the
hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?
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 encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, 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 encamped; and David beheld the
place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul
lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped 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 you.
7
So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within
the place of the wagons, 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 has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day:
now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, 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
YHWH`s anointed, and be guiltless?
10
And David said, As YHWH lives, YHWH will smite him; or his day shall come to die;
or he shall go down into battle and perish.
11
YHWH forbid that I should put forth my hand against YHWH`s anointed: but now take,
I pray you, 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 gat them
away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep,
because a deep sleep from YHWH 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, Answer you not,
Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you that cry to the king?
15
And David said to Abner, Art not you a [valiant] man? and who is like to you in Israel?
wherefore then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? for there came one
of the people in to destroy the king your lord.
16
This thing is not good that you have done. As YHWH lives, you are worthy to die, because
you have not kept watch over your lord, YHWH`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 your voice, my son David? And David
said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18
And he said, Wherefore does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done?
or what evil is in my hand?
19
Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If
it be YHWH that has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if
it be the children of men, cursed be they before YHWH: for they have driven me out
this day that I should not cleave to the inheritance of YHWH, saying, Go, serve other
gods.
20
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of YHWH:
for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge
in the mountains.
21
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm,
because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool,
and have erred exceedingly.
22
And David answered and said, Behold the spear, O king! let then one of the young men
come over and fetch it.
23
And YHWH will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; seeing that
as YHWH delivered you into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against
YHWH`s anointed.
24
And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be
much set by in the eyes of YHWH, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
25
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do mightily,
and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.