1 Samuel 26

David Spares Saul Again

1 t Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul arose and went down to u the wilderness of Ziph with v three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with w Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within x the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother y Abishai the son of Zeruiah, z "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within x the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground a at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, b "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand c against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 And David said, d "As the Lord lives, e the Lord will strike him, or f his day will come to die, g or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 h The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is i at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because j a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?" 15 And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? 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. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. k 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 jar of water that was l at his head."

17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, m "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18 And he said, n "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, o for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in p the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek q a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 Then Saul said, r "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22 And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 s The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will t succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:19
    Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
    Psalms 54:1
    O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:14
    And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:2
    Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:50
    And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
    1 Samuel 17:55
    As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.
    2 Samuel 2:8
    But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:20
    And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
  6. Cross References
    2 Samuel 2:18
    And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.
    2 Samuel 3:39
    And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!
    2 Samuel 16:10
    But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'
    2 Samuel 19:22
    But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?
    1 Chronicles 2:16
    And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 7:9 - 11
    That same night the Lord said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:5
    Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:11
    The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord 's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.
    1 Samuel 26:16
    This 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 jar of water that was at his head.
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:4
    And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
    1 Samuel 24:18
    And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:11
    The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand a...
    1 Samuel 26:16
    This thing that you have done is not good. As t...
    1 Samuel 26:23
    The Lord rewards every man for his righteousnes...
    1 Samuel 24:6
    He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I sho...
    1 Samuel 24:10
    Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lo...
    2 Samuel 1:16
    And David said to him, "Your blood be on your h...
  12. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:38
    And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 47:29
    And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt.
    Deuteronomy 31:14
    And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him." And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
  15. Cross References
    1 Samuel 31:6
    Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:6
    He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord 's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord 's anointed.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:7
    So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him.
    1 Samuel 26:16
    This 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 jar of water that was at his head.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 2:21
    So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
    Genesis 15:12
    As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
  19. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:7
    So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him.
    1 Samuel 26:11
    The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord 's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:16
    As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:9
    And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?
    1 Samuel 24:11
    See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 120:5
    Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
  24. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:16
    For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.
    2 Samuel 20:19
    I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord ?
    2 Samuel 21:3
    And David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord ?
  25. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:14
    After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
  26. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:24
    Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
    1 Samuel 24:17 - 18
    He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 7:8
    The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
    Psalms 18:20
    The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 32:28
    Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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