Chapter 26

David Again Spares Saul

1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “aIs not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before 1Jeshimon?”

2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him athree thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before 1Jeshimon, abeside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When bhe saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,

4 David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.

5 David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and aAbner 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 athe Hittite and to bAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who cwill 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 delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear 1to the ground with one stroke, and I will not 2strike him the second time.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for awho can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?”

10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, asurely the Lord will strike him, or bhis day will come that he dies, or che will go down into battle and perish.

11 “aThe Lord forbid that I should stretch out 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 us go.”

12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because aa sound 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 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 destroy the king your lord.

16 “This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you 1amust surely 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, “aIs this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”

18 He also said, “aWhy then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

19 “Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If athe Lord has stirred you up against me, blet Him 1accept an offering; but cif it is 2men, cursed are they before the Lord, for dthey have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

20 “Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for aa single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “aI have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”

22 David replied, “Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.

23 “aThe Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but bI refused to stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

24 “Now behold, as your life was ahighly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He bdeliver me from all distress.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “aBlessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So bDavid went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.