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

10Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!” So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. 13David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. 14Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!” “Who is it?” Abner demanded.

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 26:7So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him.
• 1 Samuel 24:4“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
• Genesis 2:21So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.
• Genesis 15:12As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.
• Esther 6:1That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.
• Isaiah 29:10For the Lord has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed the eyes of your prophets and visionaries.

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