1 Samuel 26:17–25

26:17 When Saul recognized David’s voice, he said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied, “Yes, it’s my voice, my lord the king.” 26:18 He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?9 26:19 So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he take delight in10 an offering. But if men have instigated this,11 may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’ 26:20 Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge12 in the hill country.”

26:21 Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you, for you treated my life with value13 this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!”14 26:22 David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it. 26:23 The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty.15 Even though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the Lord’s chosen one. 26:24 In the same way that I valued your life this day,16 may the Lord value my life17 and deliver me from all danger.” 26:25 Saul replied to David, “May you be rewarded,18 my son David! You will without question be successful!”19 So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

9	tn Heb “What in my hand [is] evil?”
10	tn Heb “may he smell.” The implication is that Saul should seek to appease God, for such divine instigation to evil would a sign of God’s disfavor. For a fuller discussion of this passage see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Deceive?” BSac 155 (1998): 19–21.
11	tn Heb “but if the sons of men.”
12	tn Heb “the calling [one],” which apparently refers to a partridge.
13	tn Heb “my life was valuable in your eyes.”
14	tn Heb “and I have erred very greatly.”
15	tn Heb “and the Lord returns to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness.”
16	tn Heb “your life was great this day in my eyes.”
17	tn Heb “may my life be great in the eyes of the Lord.”
18	tn Heb “blessed.”
19	tn Heb “you will certainly do and also you will certainly be able.” The infinitive absolutes placed before the finite verbal forms lend emphasis to the statement.