1 Samuel 26

1Then the ZiphitesH2130 cameH935 toH413 SaulH7586 at GibeahH1390 and saidH559, “Is notH3808 DavidH1732 hidingH5641 on the hillH1389 of HachilahH2444, oppositeH5921H6440 JeshimonH3452?” 2So SaulH7586, accompanied byH854 threeH7969 thousandH505 chosenH977 menH376 of IsraelH3478, went downH3381 toH413 the WildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128 to search forH1245 DavidH1732 thereH4057H2128.

3SaulH7586 campedH2583 besideH5921 the roadH1870 at the hillH1389 of HachilahH2444 oppositeH5921H6440 JeshimonH3452, but DavidH1732 was livingH3427 in the wildernessH4057. When he realizedH7200 thatH3588 SaulH7586 had followedH935 himH310 thereH4057, 4DavidH1732 sent outH7971 spiesH7270 to verifyH3045H413H3559 thatH3588 SaulH7586 had arrivedH935.

5Then DavidH1732 set outH6965 and wentH935 toH413 the placeH4725 whereH834 SaulH7586 had campedH2583H8033. HeH1732 sawH7200 the placeH4725 whereH834 SaulH7586 and AbnerH74 sonH1121 of NerH5369, the generalH8269 of his armyH6635, had lain downH7901H8033. SaulH7586 was lyingH7901 inside the inner circle of the campH4570, with the troopsH5971 campedH2583 around himH5439. 6And DavidH1732 askedH6030 AhimelechH288 the HittiteH2850 andH413 AbishaiH52 sonH1121 of ZeruiahH6870, Joab’sH3097 brotherH251H559, “WhoH4310 will go downH3381 with meH854 toH413 SaulH7586 inH413 the campH4264?”

“I willH589 goH3381 with youH5973,” answeredH559 AbishaiH52.

7That nightH3915 DavidH1732 and AbishaiH52 cameH935 toH413 the troopsH5971, and SaulH7586 was lyingH7901 thereH2009 asleepH3463 in the inner circle of the campH4570, with his spearH2595 stuckH4600 in the groundH776 by his headH4763. And AbnerH74 and the troopsH5971 were lyingH7901 around himH5439.

8AbishaiH52 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “TodayH3117 GodH430 has deliveredH5462 your enemyH341 into your handH3027. Now, thereforeH6258, pleaseH4994 let me thrust the spearH2595 through himH5221 into the groundH776 with oneH259 strokeH6471. I will notH3808 need to strike him twiceH8138!”

9But DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 AbishaiH52, “Do notH408 destroy himH7843, forH3588 whoH4310 can extendH7971 a handH3027 against the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899 and be guiltlessH5352?” 10DavidH1732 addedH559, “As surely as the LORDH3068 livesH2416, the LORD HimselfH3068H3588H518 will strike him downH5062; eitherH176 his dayH3117 will comeH935 and he will dieH4191, orH176 he will goH3381 into battleH4421 and perishH5595. 11But the LORDH3068 forbidH2486 that I should extendH7971 my handH3027 against the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899. InsteadH6258, takeH3947H4994 the spearH2595 and waterH4325 jugH6835 by his headH4763, and let us goH1980.”

12So DavidH1732 tookH3947 the spearH2595 and waterH4325H7226 jugH6835 by Saul’s headH7586, and they departedH1980. NoH369 one saw themH7200 or knew about itH3045, nor did anyoneH369 wake upH6974; they allH3605 remained asleepH3463, becauseH3588 a deep sleepH8639 from the LORDH3068 had fallenH5307 on themH5921.

David Reproves Abner

13Then DavidH1732 crossedH5674 to the other sideH5676 and stoodH5975 atopH5921H7218 the mountainH2022 at a distanceH7350; there was a wideH7227 gulfH4725 between themH996. 14And DavidH1732 shoutedH7121 toH413 the troopsH5971 and toH413 AbnerH74 sonH1121 of NerH5369H559, “Will you notH3808 answer meH6030, AbnerH74?”

“WhoH4310 are youH859 who callsH7121 toH413 the kingH4428?” AbnerH74 repliedH6030.

15So DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 AbnerH74, “You areH859 a manH376, aren’t youH3808? And whoH4310 in IsraelH3478 is your equalH3644? Why thenH4100 did you notH3808 protectH8104H413 your lordH113 the kingH4428 whenH3588 oneH259 of the peopleH5971 cameH935 to destroy himH7843? 16ThisH2088 thingH1697 you have doneH6213 is notH3808 goodH2896. As surely as the LORDH3068H3588 livesH2416, all of youH1121 deserve to dieH4194, since youH859 did notH3808 protectH8104H5921 your lordH113H5921, the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899. NowH6258 look aroundH7200. WhereH335 are the king’sH4428 spearH2595 and waterH4325 jugH6835 thatH834 were by his headH4763?”

17Then SaulH7586 recognizedH5234 David’sH1732 voiceH6963 and askedH559, “Is thatH2088 your voiceH6963, DavidH1732 my sonH1121?”

“It is my voiceH6963, my lordH113 and kingH4428,” DavidH1732 saidH559.

18And he continuedH559, “WhyH4100H2088 is my lordH113 pursuingH7291H310 his servantH5650H3588? WhatH4100 have I doneH6213? WhatH4100 evilH7451 is in my handH3027? 19NowH6258 pleaseH4994, may my lordH113 the kingH4428 hearH8085 the wordsH1697 of his servantH5650: IfH518 the LORDH3068 has stirred you upH5496 against me, then may He acceptH7306 an offeringH4503. But ifH518 menH1121H120 have done it, may theyH1992 be cursedH779 in the presenceH6440 of the LORDH3068! ForH3588 todayH3117 they have driven me awayH1644 from sharingH5596 in the inheritanceH5159 of the LORDH3068, sayingH559, ‘GoH1980, serveH5647 otherH312 godsH430.’ 20SoH6258 do notH408 let my bloodH1818 fallH5307 to the groundH776 far fromH5048 the presenceH6440 of the LORDH3068. ForH3588 the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 has come outH3318 to look forH1245 aH259 fleaH6550, likeH834 one who huntsH7291 a partridgeH7124 in the mountainsH2022.”

Saul Acknowledges His Sin

21Then SaulH7586 repliedH559, “I have sinnedH2398. Come backH7725, DavidH1732 my sonH1121. I will neverH3808 harmH7489 you againH5750, becauseH8478 todayH3117H2088H2009 you consideredH5869 my lifeH5315 preciousH3365. I have played the foolH5528 and have committed a graveH7235H3966 errorH7686!”

22“HereH2009 is the king’sH4428 spearH2595,” DavidH1732H559 answeredH6030. “Let one ofH259 the young menH5288 come overH5674 and get itH3947. 23May the LORDH3068 repayH7725 every manH376 for his righteousnessH6666 andH853 faithfulnessH530. ForH834 the LORDH3068 delivered youH5414 into my handH3027 todayH3117, butH3808 I would notH14 extendH7971 my handH3027 against the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899. 24As surely asH2009 I valuedH5869H1431 your lifeH5315 todayH3117H2088, soH3651 may the LORDH3068 valueH5869H1431 my lifeH5315 and rescue meH5337 from allH3605 troubleH6869.”

25SaulH7586 saidH559 toH413 himH1732, “May youH859 be blessedH1288, DavidH1732 my sonH1121H1571H6213. You will accomplish great thingsH6213 andH1571 will surely prevailH3201.”

So DavidH1732 wentH1980 on his wayH1870, and SaulH7586 returnedH7725 homeH4725.