David Sneaks into Saul’s Camp & Takes His Spear |
1 Samuel 26:1-25 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
The Ziphites came to Saul [in] Gibeah, saying, [Isn’t] David [hiding] himself in the Hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? Then, Saul arose & went down to the Wilderness of Ziph [with] 3,000 [of the best] men of Israel, to [look for] David in the Wilderness of Ziph. |
Saul pitched [tents] in the Hill of Hachilah, which is by the [road] before Jeshimon. But David [stayed] in the wilderness & saw that Saul came into the wilderness after him. Therefore, David sent out spies to [find out why] Saul [had come & what his plan was.] |
David arose & came to the place where Saul pitched [tents & saw] where Saul lay & Abner, [Ner’s] son, the captain of [his] army. Saul lay in the trench [camp with] the pitched [tents of] the people [all around Saul.] |
Then, David [asked] Ahimelech, the Hittite & Abishai, son of Zeruiah, [the] brother [of] Joab, saying, Who will go down to [Saul's] camp with me? Abishai said, I will go down with you. |
So, David & Abishai came to the people [at] night & [saw] Saul la sleeping within the trench with his spear stuck in the ground by his [head,] but Abner & the people lay [around] him. |
Then, Abishai said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. I pray that] you let me [go & strike] him with the spear to the [ground,] at once & I won’t [need to strike] him the 2nd time. |
David said to Abishai, [Don’t] destroy him, for who can stretch [their] hand against the Lord's anointed & be guiltless? David [further] said, As the Lord lives, the Lord shall [strike] him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall [go] into battle & perish. |
The Lord forbid that I should stretch [out my] hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray [that] you now take the spear at his [head] & the [jug] of water & let’s go. |
So, David took the spear & the [jug] of water [by] Saul’s [head] & [went] away & no man saw it, knew [of] it, [or was awakened, because] the Lord [had] a deep sleep [fall] upon them. |
David went over to the other side & stood on top of a hill far [away] with [lots] of space between them. David cried [out] to the people & Abner, [Ner’s] son, & [said, Why] don’t] you answer, Abner? |
Then, Abner answered & said, Who are you [who] cries [out] to the king? David said to Abner, Aren’t you a valiant man? Who is [similar] to you in Israel? [Why] haven't you [guarded] your lord, the king? |
For [someone] came in there of the people to destroy the king, your lord. This thing you’ve done isn't good. As the Lord lives; you are worthy [of death,] because you haven’t [guarded] your master, the Lord’s anointed. |
Now, see where the king’s spear & [jug] of water at his [head are.] And Saul knew David’s voice & [asked,] Is this your voice, my son, David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. [Why do] you pursue after [me,] your servant? What have I done? |
Or what evil is in my hand? Therefore, I now pray [that] you let the lord, the king, hear the words of his servant, [David.] If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let [God] accept an offering. |
But if the children of men [have stirred you up against me, then let them] be cursed before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from [living] in the inheritance of the Lord [God.] |
[For they say,] Go serve other gods. Therefore now, [don’t] let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, [like someone who hunts] a partridge in the mountains. |
Then, Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son, David, for I will [no longer] harm you, because my soul was precious in your eyes, this day. [See,] I have [been a] fool & I have [committed a serious error.] |
And David answered, [See, I have] the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over & [get] it. [May] the Lord [repay] every man [for] his righteousness & his faithfulness. |
For the Lord [God] delivered you into my hand today, but I wouldn’t stretch [out my] hand against the Lord’s anointed. [See,] your life was [valued] in my eyes this day, so let my life be [valued] in the eyes of the Lord [God] & let Him deliver me [from] all [trouble.] |
Then, Saul said to David, Blessed [are] you, my son, David. You shall do both great things & shall also prevail. So, David went on his way & Saul returned [home.] |