大卫再次放过扫罗

26 西弗人到基比亚见扫罗,说:“大卫正躲在旷野附近的哈基拉山中。” 扫罗就带领三千以色列精兵到西弗的旷野去追捕大卫。 他们在旷野附近路边的哈基拉山上扎营。大卫在旷野听说扫罗追来了, 就派人去打探消息,得知扫罗的追兵果然已到。 大卫来到扫罗的营地,看见了他和他的元帅——尼珥的儿子押尼珥睡觉的地方,他睡在军营中间,其他人围绕着他扎营。 大卫问赫人亚希米勒和洗鲁雅的儿子约押的兄弟亚比筛:“谁愿意跟我到扫罗的营里?”亚比筛答道:“我愿意。” 大卫和亚比筛就趁夜间走进扫罗的军营,发现扫罗正在熟睡,他的矛插在地上,靠近他的头,押尼珥和其他人睡在他周围。 亚比筛对大卫说:“现在上帝把你的敌人交在你手中了,让我一矛把他钉在地上,决不用刺第二下。” 大卫却说:“不要杀他,谁杀害耶和华所膏立的王,都难逃罪责。 10 我凭永活的耶和华起誓,耶和华必亲手击杀他。他要么寿终而死,要么命丧沙场。 11 我在耶和华面前绝不敢出手伤害祂所膏立的王。我们拿走他旁边的矛和水瓶吧。” 12 大卫拿上扫罗的矛和水瓶同亚比筛离开了,没有人看见,没有人知道,他们都在沉睡,没有人醒来,因为耶和华使他们都熟睡了。

13 大卫爬上营地对面的山坡,远远地站在山顶上,与他们相距很远。 14 他呼喊扫罗的士兵和尼珥的儿子押尼珥:“押尼珥,你回答我!”押尼珥问道:“你是谁,竟敢在王面前喊叫?” 15 大卫说:“你不是勇士吗?在以色列有谁比得上你呢?有人来刺杀你的王,你的主,你为何没有保护他呢? 16 你失职了。我凭永活的耶和华起誓,你们都该死。因为你们没有保护你们的主——耶和华所膏立的王。你看看王身边的矛和水瓶在哪里?”

17 扫罗听出是大卫的声音,就说:“我儿大卫!是你吗?”大卫答道:“我主我王啊,是我。 18 我主为什么又要追杀仆人呢?我做错了什么,犯了什么罪? 19 我主我王,请听仆人说,如果是耶和华使你与我作对,愿祂悦纳我献上的祭物;如果这是出于人的主意,愿他们在耶和华面前受咒诅。因为他们赶我离开耶和华所赐的产业,叫我去服侍外族人的神明。 20 求你不要让我死在远离耶和华的异乡!以色列王为何要像在山上猎杀鹧鸪一样追捕一只跳蚤呢?”

21 扫罗说:“我犯罪了。我儿大卫,你回来吧,我不会再伤害你,因为你今日保存了我的性命。我真是糊涂,犯了大错。” 22 大卫答道:“王的矛在这里,请派一个人来拿回去吧。 23 耶和华赐福给公义、信实的人。今天耶和华把你交在我手中,但我不愿下手伤害耶和华所膏立的王。 24 我今天保存了你的性命,愿耶和华也保存我的性命,救我脱离一切患难。” 25 扫罗对大卫说:“我儿大卫,愿你蒙福。你一定能建功立业,战胜仇敌。”于是,大卫起身离开,扫罗也回家去了。

'撒 母 耳 記 上 26 ' not found for the version: Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version.

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

26 The Ziphites(A) went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding(B) on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?(C)

So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search(D) there for David. Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah(E) facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner(F) son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite(G) and Abishai(H) son of Zeruiah,(I) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed(J) and be guiltless?(K) 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike(L) him, or his time(M) will come and he will die,(N) or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.(O)

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice,(P) David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong(Q) am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen(R) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.(S) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance(T) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’(U) 20 Now do not let my blood(V) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea(W)—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.(X)

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned.(Y) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious(Z) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards(AA) everyone for their righteousness(AB) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered(AC) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver(AD) me from all trouble.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,(AE) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Saul’s Final Pursuit of David

26 The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. “David is hiding at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon,” they said.

Saul went to the desert of Ziph, taking with him 3,000 of Israel’s best-trained men to search for David. Saul camped by the road at the hill of Hachilah near Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he realized Saul had come to the desert for him, David sent spies to confirm that Saul had arrived.

Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ner’s son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp, and the troops were camped around him.

David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai, who was Zeruiah’s son and Joab’s brother, “Who will go with me to Saul in the camp?”

Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”

So David and Abishai went among ⌞Saul’s⌟ troops that night. Saul was lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai said to David, “Today God has turned your enemy over to you. Please let me nail him to the ground with one stab of the spear. I won’t have to do it twice!”

“Don’t kill him!” David told Abishai. “No one has ever attacked the Lord’s anointed king and remained free of guilt. 10 I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives,” David added, “the Lord will strike him. Either his time will come when he’ll die ⌞naturally⌟, or he’ll go into battle and be swept away. 11 It would be unthinkable for me to attack the Lord’s anointed king. But please take that spear near his head and that jar of water, and let’s go.”

12 David took the spear and the jar of water near Saul’s head, and they left. All of them were asleep. No one saw them, knew about it, or woke up. The Lord had made them fall into a deep sleep.

13 David went over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away. (There was a wide space between them.) 14 Then David called to the troops and to Ner’s son Abner. “Won’t you answer, Abner?” he asked.

“Who is calling the king?” Abner asked.

15 David asked Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Is there anyone like you in Israel? Then why didn’t you guard your master, the king? Someone came to kill His Royal Majesty. 16 What you’ve done isn’t good. I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, you are dead men. You didn’t guard your master, the Lord’s anointed king. Look at the king’s spear and the jar of water that were near his head.”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice. “Is that your voice, my servant David?” he asked.

“It is my voice, Your Royal Majesty,” David answered. 18 “Why are you pursuing me?” he added. “What have I done? What crime have I committed? 19 Your Majesty, please listen to my words. If the Lord has turned you against me, let him be satisfied with an offering. But if mere mortals ⌞have turned you against me⌟, let them be cursed by the Lord. They have prevented me from having a share of the Lord’s inheritance. ‘Go and serve other gods,’ they tell me. 20 Don’t let my blood fall to the ground, away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come to search for one flea like someone hunting a partridge in the hills.”

21 “My servant David,” Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I’ve acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake.”

22 David responded, “Here’s the king’s spear. One of the young men should come over and get it. 23 The Lord will reward any person who is righteous and faithful. The Lord handed you over to me today, but I refused to attack the Lord’s anointed king. 24 As I placed great value on your life today, may the Lord place great value on my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

25 Then Saul said, “Blessed are you, my servant David. You will accomplish many things and certainly will succeed.”

So David went his way, while Saul returned home.