1 Samuel 26

David Again Spares Saul

26Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.” ^t2So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel, ^uwent to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. ³Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah ^vopposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him. ^w4So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come. ⁵Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, ^xthe general of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him. ⁶Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite ^yand Joab’s brother Abishai ^zson of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp ^ato Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.

⁷That 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. ⁸Then 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!”

⁹But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless?” ^b10David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down: ^ceither his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹However, because of the Lord, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. ^dInstead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”

¹²So 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 ^ecame over them. ¹³David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. ¹⁴Then 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.

¹⁵David 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? ¹⁶What 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. ^fNow look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” ^g

“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. ¹⁸Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? ^h19Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, ⁱthen may He accept an offering. ^jBut if it is people, ^kmay 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, ^l‘Go and worship other gods.’ ²⁰So 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, ^mlike one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹Saul responded, “I have sinned. ⁿCome 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.”

²²David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. ²³May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness ^oand 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. ^p24Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable ^qand rescue me from all trouble.” ^r

²⁵Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” ^sThen David went on his way, and Saul returned home. ^t