1 Samuel 26
1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, facing the wilderness?”
2 Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which faces the wilderness, beside the road. David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness.
4 David sent out scouts and learned for certain that Saul had arrived.
5 David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, commander of his army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp, and the people were camped around him.
6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul’s camp?” Abishai answered, “I’ll go down with you.”
7 David and Abishai came upon the people by night. Saul was lying asleep in the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the people were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Now let me pin him to the ground with the spear in one thrust. I won’t need a second.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill him! For who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and remain innocent?”
10 David continued, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11 Far be it from me, by the LORD, to lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed! Now take the spear beside his head and the water jar, and let’s go.”
12 David took the spear and the water jar from beside Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them or noticed them; no one woke up. They were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the hill, a long way off. There was a great distance between them.
14 David called out to the people and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer, Abner?” Abner answered, “Who are you to call out to the king?”
15 David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? And who in Israel is like you? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? One of the people came in to kill your lord the king.
16 What you’ve done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look: where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were beside his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David answered, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”
18 He continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What wrong is there in my hands?
19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering. But if people have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD, because today they have driven me away, so that I have no share in the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
20 Now let my blood not fall to the ground, far from the LORD’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a flea, like someone hunting a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Saul said, “I have sinned! Come back, my son David, because I will not harm you again. Today my life was precious in your eyes. I have acted foolishly and made a terrible mistake.”
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come and get it.
23 The LORD will repay each person for his righteousness and faithfulness. Today the LORD handed you over to me, but I was unwilling to lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed.
24 Just as your life was precious in my eyes today, may my life be precious in the LORD’s eyes, and may he rescue me from every trouble.”
25 Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You will certainly act, and you will certainly prevail.” David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
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