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, [Doessn’t] David hide 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. |
And 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 understand] [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, & 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? And Abishai said, I will go down with you. |
So, David & Abishai came to the people [at] night, & [saw] Saul lay sleeping within the trench, & his spear [was] stuck in the ground [by] his [pillow,] but Abner & the people lay [all around] him. |
Then, Abishai said to David, God [has] delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Therefore, I pray [that] you let me [go & strike] him with the spear, even to the [ground] at once, & I [won’t] [need to] [strike] him the 2nd time. |
And David said to Abishai, [Don’t] destroy him, for who can stretch [out] his 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 down] into battle, & perish. |
The Lord [forbids] that I should stretch [out my] hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray [that] you now take the spear that is at his [pillow,] & [take] the [jug] of water, & let’s go. |
So, David took the spear & the [jug] of water [by] Saul’s [pillow,] & [went] away, & no man saw it, nor knew [of] it, & neither [woke up.] For they all were asleep; because the Lord [had] a deep sleep [fall] upon them. |
Then, David went over to the other side, & stood on top of [a] hill [far away;] [with] a [large] space between them. And David cried [out] to the people, & Abner, [Ner’s] son, saying, [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] then, [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 [pillow are.] And Saul knew David’s voice, & [asked,] Is this your voice, my son, David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. [Why do] you pursue after [me,] his servant? What have I done? |
Or what evil is in my hand? Therefore, I now pray [that] you let my lord, the king, hear the words of his servant, [a.k.a. 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.] |
Saying, Go serve other gods. Therefore now, [don’t] let my blood fall to the [ground,] 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 played the 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 out of all tribulation, [a.k.a. trouble.] |
Then, Saul said to David, Blessed [are] you, my son, David. You [shall] do both great things, & still [shall] also prevail. So, David went on his way, & Saul returned [home.] |