God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 26:12
12David took the spear and the jar of water near Saul’s head, and they left. All of them were asleep. No one saw them, knew about it, or woke up. The Lord had made them fall into a deep sleep.
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
10I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives,” David added, “the Lord will strike him. Either his time will come when he’ll die ⌞naturally⌟, or he’ll go into battle and be swept away. 11It would be unthinkable for me to attack the Lord’s anointed king. But please take that spear near his head and that jar of water, and let’s go.” David took the spear and the jar of water near Saul’s head, and they left. All of them were asleep. No one saw them, knew about it, or woke up. The Lord had made them fall into a deep sleep. 13David went over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away. (There was a wide space between them.) 14Then David called to the troops and to Ner’s son Abner. “Won’t you answer, Abner?” he asked. “Who is calling the king?” Abner asked.
Read all of 1 Samuel 261 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 26:7So David and Abishai went among ⌞Saul’s⌟ troops that night. Saul was lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
- 1 Samuel 24:4David’s men told him, “Today is the day the Lord referred to when he said, ‘I’m going to hand your enemy over to you. You will do to him whatever you think is right.’ ” David quietly got up and cut off the border of Saul’s robe.
- Genesis 2:21So the Lord God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
- Genesis 15:12As the sun was just about to set, a deep sleep—a dreadful, deep darkness—came over Abram.
- Esther 6:1That night the king could not sleep. So he told ⌞a servant⌟ to bring the official daily records, and they were read to the king.
- Isaiah 29:10The Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He will shut your eyes. (Your eyes are the prophets.) He will cover your heads. (Your heads are 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries