1 Samuel
26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide
himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three
thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness
of Ziph.
26:3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by
the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came
after him into the wilderness.
26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in
very deed.
26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David
beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain
of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round
about him.
26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai
the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to
Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay
sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his
bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine
hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the
spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second
time.
26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth
his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?
26:10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or
his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's
anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his
bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
26:12 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.
26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill
afar off; a great space being between them:
26:14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying,
Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou
that criest to the king?
26:15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to
thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for
there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
26:16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are
worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's
anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water
that was at his bolster.
26:17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David?
And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for
what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his
servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an
offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the
LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the
inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
26:20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the
LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one
doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more
do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day:
behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the
young men come over and fetch it.
26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for
the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch
forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.
26:24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let
my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me
out of all tribulation.
26:25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both
do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way,
and Saul returned to his place.
