Chapter 26

David Spares Saul Again.^{[a] 1 (A)}Men from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah, reporting that David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah at the edge of Jeshimon. ² So Saul went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand of the best warriors of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. ³ Saul camped beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, at the edge of Jeshimon. David, who was living in the wilderness, saw that Saul had come into the wilderness after him ⁴ and sent out scouts, who confirmed Saul’s arrival. ⁵ David then went to the place where Saul was encamped and saw the spot where Saul and his general, Abner, son of Ner, had their sleeping quarters. Saul was lying within the camp, and all his soldiers were bivouacked around him.^{(B) 6} David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” Abishai replied, “I will.”^{(C) 7} So David and Abishai reached Saul’s soldiers by night, and there was Saul lying asleep within the camp, his spear thrust into the ground at his head and Abner and his troops sleeping around him.

⁸ Abishai whispered to David: “God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I will not need to strike him twice!”^{(D) 9} But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent? ¹⁰ As the Lord lives,” David declared, “only the Lord can strike him: either when the time comes for him to die, or when he goes out and perishes in battle.^{[b](E) 11} But the Lord forbid that I lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed! Now take the spear at his head and the water jug, and let us be on our way.” ¹² So David took the spear and the water jug from their place at Saul’s head, and they withdrew without anyone seeing or knowing or awakening. All remained asleep, because a deep slumber^[c] from the Lord had fallen upon them.^(F)

David Taunts Abner. ¹³ Crossing over to an opposite slope, David stood on a distant hilltop. With a great distance between them ¹⁴ David called to the army and to Abner, son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner shouted back, “Who is it that calls me?” ¹⁵ David said to Abner: “Are you not a man? Who in Israel is your equal? Why were you not guarding your lord the king when one of his subjects came to assassinate the king, your lord? ¹⁶ What you have done is not right. As the Lord lives, you people deserve death because you have not guarded your lord, the anointed of the Lord. Go, look: where are the king’s spear and the water jug that was at his head?”

Saul Admits His Guilt. ¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?”^[d] David answered, “Yes, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ He continued: “Why does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done? What evil am I planning? ¹⁹ Please, now, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may an offering please the Lord. But if it is the people who have done so, may they be cursed before the Lord. They have driven me away so that today I have no share in the Lord’s heritage,^[e] but am told: ‘Go serve other gods!’^{(G) 20} Do not let my blood spill on the ground far from the presence of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea as if he were hunting partridge^[f] in the mountains.” ²¹ Then Saul said: “I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will not harm you again, because you considered my life precious today even though I have been a fool and have made a serious mistake.” ²² But David answered: “Here is the king’s spear. Let an attendant come over to get it. ²³ The Lord repays everyone’s righteousness and faithfulness. Although the Lord delivered you into my hands today, I could not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.^{(H) 24} Just as I regarded your life as precious today, so may the Lord regard my life as precious and deliver me from all dangers.” ²⁵ Then Saul said to David: “Blessed are you, my son David! You shall certainly succeed in whatever you undertake.” David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.^(I)

Chapter 27

David Flees to the Philistines. ¹ David said to himself: “I shall perish some day at the hand of Saul. I have no choice but to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will give up his continual search for me throughout the land of Israel, and I will be out of his reach.” ² Accordingly, David departed with his six hundred soldiers and went over to Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath.^{(A) 3} David and his men lived in Gath with Achish; each one had his family, and David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.^{(B) 4} When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

⁵ David said to Achish: “If I meet with your approval, let me have a place to live in one of the country towns. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?” ⁶ That same day Achish gave him Ziklag, which has, therefore, belonged to the kings of Judah^[a] up to the present time.^{(C) 7} In all, David lived a year and four months in Philistine territory.^(D)

David Raids Israel’s Foes. ⁸ David and his men went out on raids against the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites—peoples living in the land between Telam, on the approach to Shur, and the land of Egypt.^{(E) 9} In attacking the land David would not leave a man or woman alive, but would carry off sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and clothes. Then he would return to Achish, ¹⁰ who would ask, “Against whom did you raid this time?” David would reply, “Against the Negeb of Judah,”^[b] or “Against the Negeb of Jerahmeel,” or “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.”^{(F) 11} David never left a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath. He thought, “They will betray us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was his custom as long as he lived in Philistine territory. ¹² Achish trusted David, thinking, “His people Israel must certainly detest him. I shall have him as my vassal forever.”