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1 Samuel 26:1-25 — David Again Spares Saul's Life

1Sam.26.1-25

¹Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “David is indeed hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon.” ²So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. ³Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness. ⁴So David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul had certainly arrived. ⁵Then David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, along with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the camp circle , and the people were camped around him. ⁶Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul, to 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 within the camp circle, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head. And Abner and the people were lying around him. ⁸Then Abishai said to David, “God has handed your enemy over to you today. Now therefore, please let me pin him to the ground with the spear with one strike, and I will not need to strike him twice.” ⁹But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed and remain guiltless?” ¹⁰David also said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and perish. ¹¹The 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 water jug, and let us go." ¹²So David took the spear and the water jug from Saul's head, and they went away. No one saw it, no one knew it, and no one awoke, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. ¹³Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain far away, with a great distance between them. ¹⁴And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you who calls out to the king?” ¹⁵David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. ¹⁶This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is, and the water jug that was at his head." ¹⁷Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” ¹⁸And he said, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done, and what evil is in my hand? ¹⁹Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering . But if it is the sons of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out today so that I cannot share in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' ²⁰Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains." ²¹Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no longer do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have made a very great mistake.” ²²David answered and said, "Here is the king's spear! Let one of the young men cross over and take it. ²³The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD handed you over to me today, but I was unwilling to stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. ²⁴And behold, just as your life was highly valued in my eyes today, so may my life be highly valued in the eyes of the LORD, and may He rescue me from all distress." ²⁵Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David! You will certainly do great things, and you will certainly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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4/11/2026

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