Chapter 26

And the Ziphites came⁴ unto Saul to Gibeah, saying,² Doth not David hide¹⁰² himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is] before Jeshimon?

Then Saul arose,⁴ and went down⁴ to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen⁷ men of Israel with him, to seek¹⁵ David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul pitched⁴ in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode⁶ in the wilderness, and he saw⁴ that Saul came¹ after him into the wilderness.

David therefore sent⁴ out spies,¹⁸ and understood⁴ that Saul was come¹ in very deed.¹²

And David arose,⁴ and came⁴ to the place where Saul had pitched:¹ and David beheld⁴ the place where Saul lay,¹ and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay⁶ in the trench, and the people pitched⁶ round about him.

Then answered⁴ David and said⁴ to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying,² Who will go down⁴ with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said,⁴ I will go down⁴ with thee.

So David and Abishai came⁴ to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay⁶ sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck⁷ in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay⁶ round about him.

Then said⁴ Abishai to David, God hath delivered¹⁴ thine enemy⁶ into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite⁵⁵ him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, ²⁵⁹ and I will not [smite] him the second time.⁴

And David said⁴ to Abishai, Destroy⁵⁵ him not: for who can stretch forth¹ his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?⁸

David said⁴ furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite⁴ him; or his day shall come⁴ to die;¹ or he shall descend⁴ into battle, and perish.⁸

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth² mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take³ thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.⁴

So David took⁴ the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away,⁴ and no man saw⁶ [it], nor knew⁶ [it], neither awaked:⁵⁶ for they [were] all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen¹ upon them.

Then David went over⁴ to the other side, and stood⁴ on the top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between them:

And David cried⁴ to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying,² Answerest⁴ thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered⁴ and said,⁴ Who [art] thou [that] criest¹ to the king?

And David said⁴ to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept¹ thy lord the king? for there came¹ one of the people in to destroy⁵³ the king thy lord.

This thing [is] not good that thou hast done.¹ [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept¹ your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see³ where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.

And Saul knew⁵⁵ David's voice, and said,⁴ [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And David said,⁴ [It is] my voice, my lord, O king.

And he said,⁴ Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue⁶ after his servant? for what have I done?¹ or what evil [is] in mine hand?

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear⁴ the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up⁵² against me, let him accept⁵⁵ an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed⁷ [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out¹⁴ this day from abiding⁹⁹ in the inheritance of the LORD, saying,² Go,³ serve³ other gods.

Now therefore, let not my blood fall⁴ to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out¹ to seek¹⁵ a flea, as when one doth hunt⁴ a partridge in the mountains.

Then said⁴ Saul, I have sinned:¹ return,³ my son David: for I will no more do thee harm,⁵⁵ because my soul was precious¹ in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool,⁵² and have erred⁴ exceedingly.^{53 3966}

And David answered⁴ and said,⁴ Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over⁴ and fetch⁴ it.

The LORD render⁵⁵ to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered¹ thee into [my] hand to day, but I would¹ not stretch forth² mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

And, behold, as thy life was much set by¹ this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by⁴ in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver⁵⁵ me out of all tribulation.

Then Saul said⁴ to David, Blessed⁷ [be] thou, my son David: thou shalt both do⁴ great² [things], and also shalt still² prevail.⁴ So David went⁴ on his way, and Saul returned¹ to his place.