1 Samuel 26
Expanded Bible
David Shames Saul Again
26 The people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said to him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah ·opposite [overlooking; facing] ·Jeshimon [or the wasteland].”
2 So Saul went down to the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Ziph with three thousand ·chosen men [elite soldiers] of Israel to look for David ·there [L in the Desert/Wilderness of Ziph]. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah ·opposite [overlooking; facing] ·Jeshimon [or the wasteland], but David stayed in the ·desert [wilderness]. When he heard Saul had followed him [L into the desert/wilderness], 4 he sent out ·spies [scouts] and learned for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping ·in [within] the ·middle [circle; ring] of the camp with all the army around him.
6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into Saul’s camp with me?”
Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”
7 So that night David and Abishai went ·into Saul’s camp [L amidst the army]. Saul was asleep ·in [within] the ·middle [circle; ring] of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the army were sleeping around Saul. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has ·handed [delivered] your enemy ·over to you [L into your hand]. Let me pin Saul to the ground with my spear. I’ll only have to do it once. I won’t need to ·hit [L strike] him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t ·kill [L destroy] Saul! ·No one [Who…?] can ·harm [raise a hand against] the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed] and still be ·innocent [without guilt]! 10 As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will ·punish Saul [strike him]. ·Maybe Saul will die naturally [L His day to die will come], or maybe he will go into battle and be killed. 11 But may the Lord ·keep me from [forbid my] ·harming [raising my hand against] his ·appointed king [anointed]! Take the spear and water jug that are near Saul’s head. Then let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them or knew about it or woke up, because ·the Lord had put them sound asleep [L a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them].
13 David crossed over to the other side of the hill and stood on top of the mountain far from Saul’s camp. They were a long way away from each other. 14 David ·shouted [called] to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer me, Abner?”
Abner answered, “Who is calling for the king? Who are you [L that calls on the king]?”
15 David said, “You’re ·the greatest man [L a man unlike any] in Israel. Isn’t that true? Why didn’t you ·guard [protect] your ·master [lord] the king? Someone came into your camp to kill your ·master [lord] the king! 16 ·You have not done well [L This thing you’ve done is not good]. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men ·should [must] die. You haven’t guarded your ·master [lord], the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed]. Look! Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17 Saul ·knew [recognized] David’s voice. He said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David answered, “Yes, it is [L my voice], my ·master [lord] and king.” 18 David also said, “Why are you ·chasing me [pursuing your servant], my ·master [lord]? What wrong have I done? What ·evil [crime] ·am I guilty of [L is in my hand]? 19 My ·master [lord] and king, listen to me. If the Lord ·made you angry with [L stirred you up/incited you against] me, let him accept an offering. But if people did it, may the Lord curse them! They have ·made me leave [driven me out today from] ·the land the Lord gave me [L my share in the Lord’s inheritance/heritage]. They have told me, ‘Go and ·serve [worship] other gods.’ 20 Now don’t let ·me die [L my blood fall to the ground so] far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a [L single] flea! You’re just hunting a ·bird [L partridge] in the mountains!”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Today you ·respected [valued; considered precious] my life, so I will not try to hurt you. I have been very ·stupid [wrong; mistaken] and foolish.”
22 David answered, “·Here is [T Behold] your spear [L O king]. Let one of your young men come here and get it. 23 The Lord ·rewards us for the things we do right [repays each one for his righteousness] and for our ·loyalty [faithfulness] to him. The Lord ·handed you over to me [L placed you in my hand] today, but I wouldn’t ·harm [raise a hand against] the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed]. 24 As I ·respected [valued; considered precious] your life today, may the Lord also ·respect [value; consider precious] my life and ·save [rescue; deliver] me from all ·trouble [tribulation].”
25 Then Saul said to David, “·You are [May you be] blessed, my son David. You will do great things and ·succeed [surely prevail/triumph].”
So David went on his way, and Saul went back home.
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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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
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