26
1 The
Ziphites came to
Saul to Gibeah,
saying, “Doesn’t 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 Saul
encamped in the
hill of Hachilah,
which is before
the desert, by
the way. But
David stayed in
the wilderness,
and he saw
that Saul came
after him into
the wilderness.
4 David
therefore sent out
spies, and
understood that
Saul had certainly
come.
5 Then
David arose and
came to the
place where Saul
had encamped; and
David saw the
place where Saul
lay, with Abner
the son of
Ner, the captain
of his army.
Saul lay within
the place of
the wagons, and
the people were
encamped around
him.
6 Then
David answered and
said to Ahimelech
the Hittite, and
to Abishai the son
of Zeruiah, brother
of Joab, saying, “Who
will go down
with me to
Saul to the
camp?”
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 around
him.
8 Then Abishai
said to David, “God
has delivered up
your enemy into
your hand today.
Now therefore
please let me
strike him with
the spear to
the earth at one
stroke, and I
will not strike
him the second
time.”
9 David said
to Abishai, “Don’t destroy
him, for who
can stretch out
his hand against
the LORD’s
anointed, and be
guiltless?”
10 David said,
“As the LORD
lives, the LORD
will strike him;
or his day
shall come to
die, or he
shall go down
into battle and
perish.
11 The
LORD forbid that
I should stretch
out my hand
against the LORD’s
anointed; but now
please take the
spear that is
at his head
and the jar
of water, and
let’s go.”
12 So
David took the
spear and the
jar of water
from Saul’s head,
and they went
away. No man
saw it, or
knew it, nor
did any awake;
for they were
all asleep,
because a deep
sleep from the
LORD had fallen
on them.
13 Then
David went over
to the other
side, and stood
on the top
of the mountain
far away, a
great space being
between them;
14 and
David cried to
the people, and
to Abner the son
of Ner, saying, “Don’t
you answer, Abner?”
Then Abner answered, “Who
are you who
calls to the
king?”
15 David said
to Abner, “Aren’t you
a man? Who is
like you in
Israel? Why then
have you not
kept watch over
your lord the king?
For one of
the people came
in to destroy
your lord the king.
16 This
thing isn’t good
that you have
done. As the
LORD lives, you
are worthy to
die, because you
have not kept
watch over your
lord, the LORD’s
anointed. Now see
where the king’s
spear is, and
the jar of
water that was
at his head.”
17 Saul
recognized David’s
voice, and said, “Is
this your voice,
my son David?”
David said, “It
is my voice,
my lord, O king.”
18 He said, “Why
does my lord
pursue his servant?
For what have
I done? What
evil is in
my hand?
19 Now
therefore, please
let my lord
the king hear
the words of
his servant. If
it is so
that the LORD
has stirred you
up against me,
let him accept
an offering. But
if it is
the children of
men, they
are cursed before
the LORD; for
they have driven
me out today
that I shouldn’t cling
to the LORD’s
inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
20 Now
therefore, don’t let
my blood fall
to the earth away
from the presence
of the LORD;
for the king
of Israel has
come out to
seek a flea,
as when one
hunts a partridge
in the mountains.”
21 Then
Saul said, “I have
sinned. Return, my
son David; for
I will no
more do you
harm, because my
life was precious
in your eyes
today. Behold, I
have played the
fool, and have
erred exceedingly.”
22 David
answered, “Behold
the spear, O
king! Let one of
the young men
come over and
get it.
23 The
LORD will render
to every man his
righteousness and
his faithfulness; because
the LORD delivered
you into my
hand today, and
I wouldn’t stretch
out my hand
against the LORD’s
anointed.
24 Behold,
as your life
was respected
today in my
eyes, so let
my life be
respected in the
LORD’s eyes, and
let him deliver
me out of
all oppression.”
25 Then
Saul said to David,
“You are blessed,
my son David.
You will both
do mightily, and
will surely
prevail.”
So David went
his way, and
Saul returned to
his place.