1 SamuelChapter 26

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¹The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon!" ²So Saul went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. Three thousand of the best men of Israel went with him. ³Saul camped beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon. But David was staying in the wilderness. He found out that Saul had followed him there. ⁴So David sent out spies to make sure Saul had come. ⁵Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner were lying down. Abner was the commander of Saul's army. Saul was lying in the middle of the camp. The troops were camped around him. ⁶David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down with me into Saul's camp?" "I'll go with you," Abishai answered. ⁷That night David and Abishai came to the troops. Saul was lying there asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. ⁸Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. So please let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear. I won't need to strike him twice!" ⁹But David said to Abishai, "Don't kill him! No one can raise a hand against the LORD's anointed and not be guilty." ¹⁰David went on, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him down. Either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and be killed. ¹¹But may the LORD keep me from raising my hand against the LORD's anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head. Then let's go." ¹²So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head, and they left. No one saw them. No one knew about it. No one woke up. They all stayed asleep, because the LORD had made them fall into a deep sleep. ¹³Then David went across to the other side. He stood on top of the hill far away. There was a wide space between them. ¹⁴David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, "Won't you answer me, Abner?" Abner answered, "Who are you, calling out to the king?" ¹⁵David said to Abner, "You're a man, aren't you? Who in Israel is as great as you? Then why didn't you guard your master the king? Someone came to kill your master the king! ¹⁶What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die. You did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Now look around. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were by his head?" ¹⁷Saul knew David's voice. He asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" "Yes, it's my voice, my master the king," David said. ¹⁸David went on, "Why is my master chasing me, his servant? What have I done? What evil have I done? ¹⁹Now please, my master the king, listen to what your servant has to say. Maybe the LORD has stirred you up against me. If so, may he accept an offering. But if people have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! Today they have driven me away from my share in the LORD's inheritance. They have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' ²⁰So don't let my blood fall to the ground far away from the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea! He's like someone hunting a partridge in the mountains." ²¹Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I'll never harm you again. Today you treated my life as precious. I have acted like a fool. I have made a terrible mistake!" ²²"Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³May the LORD reward every person for doing what is right and for being faithful. The LORD handed you over to me today. But I would not raise my hand against the LORD's anointed. ²⁴Today I thought your life was precious. In the same way, may the LORD think my life is precious. May he save me from all trouble." ²⁵Saul said to him, "May you be blessed, David my son. You will do great things, and you will surely win." So David went on his way, and Saul went back home.