1 Samuel 26:1-12

1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “1Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before 2Jeshimon?” 2So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him 3three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before 4Jeshimon, 5beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When 6he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming. 5David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and 7Abner 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.

6Then David said to Ahimelech 8the Hittite and to 9Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who 10will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7So 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. 8Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear 11to the ground with one stroke, and I will not 12strike him the second time.” 9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for 13who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?” 10David also said, “As the Lord lives, 14surely the Lord will strike him, or 15his day will come that he dies, or 16he will go down into battle and perish. 1117The 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.” 12So 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 18a sound sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.