CHAPTER 26
Then the Ziphites
came
to
Saul
at Gibeah
and said,
“Is not
David
hiding
on the hill
of Hachilah,
opposite
Jeshimon?”
So Saul,
accompanied by
three
thousand
choice men
of Israel,
went down
to
the Wilderness
of Ziph
to search for
David
there.
Saul
camped
beside
the road
at the hill
of Hachilah
opposite
Jeshimon,
but David
was living
in the wilderness.
When he realized
that
Saul
had followed
him
there,
Then David
set out
and went
to
the place
where
Saul
had camped.
He
saw
the place
where
Saul
and Abner
son
of Ner,
the general
of his army,
had lain down.
Saul
was lying
inside the inner circle of the camp,
with the troops
camped
around him.
And David
asked
Ahimelech
the Hittite
and Abishai
son
of Zeruiah,
Joab’s
brother,
“Who
will go down
with me
into
the camp
to
Saul?”
“I will
go
with you,”
answered
Abishai.
That 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.
And Abner
and the troops
were lying
around him.
Abishai
said
to
David,
“Today
God
has delivered
your enemy
into your hand.
Now, therefore,
please
let me thrust the spear
through him
into the ground
with one
stroke.
I will not
need to strike him twice!”
But David
said
to
Abishai,
“Do not
destroy him,
for
who
can lift
a hand
against the LORD’s
anointed
and be guiltless?”
David
added,
“As surely as the LORD
lives,
the LORD Himself
will strike him down;
either
his day
will come
and he will die,
or
he will go
into battle
and perish.
But the LORD
forbid
that I
should stretch out
my hand
against the LORD’s
anointed.
Instead,
take
the spear
and water
jug
by his head,
and let us go.”
So David
took
the spear
and water
jug
by Saul’s head,
and they departed.
No
one saw them
or
knew about it,
nor did anyone
wake up;
they all
remained asleep,
because
a deep sleep
from the LORD
had fallen
on them.
Then David
crossed
to the other side
and stood
atop
the mountain
at a distance—
there was a wide
gulf
between them.
And David
shouted
to
the troops
and to
Abner
son
of Ner,
“Aren’t
you going to answer me,
Abner?”
“Who
calls
to
the king?”
Abner
replied.
So David
said
to Abner,
“You are
a man,
aren’t you?
And who
in Israel
is your equal?
Why then
did you not
protect
your lord
the king
when
one
of the people
came
to destroy him?
This
thing
you have done
is not
good.
As surely as the LORD
lives,
all of you
deserve to die,
since you
did not
protect
your lord,
the LORD’s
anointed.
Now
look around.
Where
are the king’s
spear
and water
jug
that
were by his head?"
Then Saul
recognized
David’s
voice
and asked,
“Is that
your voice,
David
my son?”
“It is my voice,
my lord
and king,”
David
said.
And he continued,
“Why
is my lord
pursuing
his servant?
What
have I done?
What
evil
is in my hand?
Now
please,
may my lord
the king
hear
the words
of his servant:
If
the LORD
has stirred you up
against me,
then may He accept
an offering.
But if
men have done it,
may 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,
"Go,
serve
other
gods."
So
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 look for
a
flea,
like
one who hunts
a partridge
in the mountains.”
Then Saul
replied,
“I have sinned.
Come back,
David,
my son.
I will never
harm
you
again,
because
today
you considered
my life
precious.
I have played the fool!
I have committed a grave
error.”
May the LORD
repay
every man
for his righteousness
and
faithfulness.
For
the LORD
delivered you
into my hand
today,
but
I would not
stretch out
my hand
against the LORD's
anointed.
As surely as
I valued
your life
today,
so
may the LORD
value
my life
and rescue me
from all
trouble.”
Saul
said
to
him,
“May you
be blessed,
my son
David.
You will
accomplish
great things
and
will surely prevail.”
So David
went
on his way,
and Saul
returned
home.