1 Samuel 26:12

1 Samuel 26:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
• New International Version (NIV)So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

Context of 1 Samuel 26:12

10David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11However, as the Lord is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.” So 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 came 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.

1 Samuel 26:12 word by word

וַיִּקַּח֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֜ית וְאֶת־צַפַּ֤חַת הַמַּ֙יִם֙ מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֣ין רֹאֶה֩ וְאֵ֨ין יוֹדֵ֜עַ וְאֵ֣ין מֵקִ֗יץ כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ יְשֵׁנִ֔ים כִּ֚י תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה נָפְלָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• the spearחֲנִיתchănîyth · spearH2595
• and the cruseצַפַּ֫חַתtsappachath · jarH6835
• of waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• from Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• bolsterרַאֲשֹׁתra'ăshôth · head-placeH7226
• and they gat them awayיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and no man sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• nor knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• neither awakedקִיץqûts · to awakeH6974
• all asleepיָשֵׁןyâshên · sleepingH3463
• because a deep sleepתַּרְדֵּמָהtardêmâh · deep sleepH8639
• from the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• was fallenנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 26:12

• 1 Samuel 26:7That 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.
• 1 Samuel 24:4so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
• Genesis 2:21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place.
• Genesis 15:12As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
• Esther 6:1That night sleep escaped the king, so he ordered the book recording daily events to be brought and read to the king.
• Isaiah 29:10For the Lord has poured out on you an overwhelming urge to sleep; he has shut your eyes (the prophets) and covered your heads (the seers).

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12David took the spear and the cruse - The spear, we have already seen, was the emblem of power and regal dignity. But it is usual, in Arab camps, for every man to have his lance stuck in the ground beside him, that he may be ready for action in a moment. The cruse of water resembled, in some measure, the canteens of our soldiers. In such a climate, where water was always scarce, it was necessary for each man to carry a little with him, to refresh him on…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25This was the last time Saul and David were together. The Ziphites informed Saul again about David's hiding place (see 1 Samuel 23:19–20). David spared Saul's life again, just like he did in the cave at En-gedi (see 1 Samuel 24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-128-12. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand--This midnight stratagem shows the activity and heroic enterprise of David's mind, and it was in unison with the style of warfare in ancient times. let me smite him ... even to the earth at once--The ferocious vehemence of the speaker is sufficiently apparent from his language, but David's magnanimity soared far above the notions of his followers. Though Saul's cruelty and…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 26:12

• Citizens
• Courage
• Loyalty
• Pillow
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Deep Sleep
• Abishai
• Cruse
• Bolster
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul
• Sleep, Deep
• Abner

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings