1 Samuel 26
New American Standard Bible
David Again Spares Saul
26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “(A)Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite [a]Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, [b]taking with him (B)three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite [c]Jeshimon, (C)beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When (D)he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then set out and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and (E)Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech (F)the Hittite and to (G)Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who (H)will go down with me to Saul in 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 inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me [d]pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not [e]do it to him a second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not [f]kill him, for (I)who can reach out with his hand against the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, (J)the Lord certainly will strike him, or (K)his day will come that he dies, or (L)he will go down in battle and [g]perish. 11 (M)The Lord forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let’s go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul’s head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because (N)a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 And David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to [h]kill the king your lord! 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you undoubtedly [i](O)must die, because you did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!”
17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “(P)Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “(Q)Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If (R)the Lord has incited you against me, (S)may He [j]accept an offering; but (T)if it is [k]people, cursed [l]are they before the Lord, because (U)they have driven me out today so that I would have no share in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for (V)a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “(W)I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake.” 22 David replied, “Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And (X)the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord handed you over to me today, but (Y)I refused to reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was (Z)highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He (AA)rescue me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “(AB)Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So (AC)David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 26:1 Or the desert
- 1 Samuel 26:2 Lit and with him
- 1 Samuel 26:3 Or the desert
- 1 Samuel 26:8 Lit strike him...even into
- 1 Samuel 26:8 Lit repeat it to him
- 1 Samuel 26:9 Lit destroy
- 1 Samuel 26:10 Lit be carried away
- 1 Samuel 26:15 Lit destroy
- 1 Samuel 26:16 Lit are sons of death
- 1 Samuel 26:19 Lit smell
- 1 Samuel 26:19 Lit the sons of mankind
- 1 Samuel 26:19 Or may they be
1 Samuel 26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
David Again Spares Saul
26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”(A) 2 So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel,(B) went to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 3 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah(C) opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him.(D) 4 So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come. 5 Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner,(E) the general of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him. 6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite(F) and Joab’s brother Abishai(G) son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp(H) to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless?”(I) 10 David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down:(J) either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.(K) Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord(L) came over them. 13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. 14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”
“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
15 David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16 What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed.(M) Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?”(N)
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. 18 Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?(O) 19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me,(P) then may He accept an offering.(Q) But if it is people,(R) may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord saying,(S) ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20 So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a flea,(T) like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Saul responded, “I have sinned.(U) Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness(V) and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.(W) 24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable(X) and rescue me from all trouble.”(Y)
25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.”(Z) Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.(AA)
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