1 Samuel 26

1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

2So Saul got up and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3Saul camped beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, which faces Jeshimon. David was staying in the wilderness, and when he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

4David sent out scouts and learned for certain that Saul had come.

5Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the troops camped around him.

6David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

7So David and Abishai went to the troops by night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him.

8Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear. I will not need to strike him twice.”

9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him! Who can lift his hand against Yahweh’s anointed and be guiltless?”

10David said, “As surely as Yahweh lives, Yahweh himself will strike him down, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.

11Yahweh forbid that I should lift my hand against Yahweh’s anointed. Now take the spear that is near his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”

12So David took the spear and the jug of water from near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw it, no one knew about it, and no one woke up. They were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.

13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them.

14David called out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”

15David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then did you not guard your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.

16What you have done is not good. As surely as Yahweh lives, all of you deserve to die, because you did not guard your lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now look around: where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were near his head?”

17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”

18He went on, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil am I guilty of?

19Now please let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If it is Yahweh who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed before Yahweh, for they have now driven me out from my share in Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

20Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of Yahweh. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I will not harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. Yes, I have acted like a fool and have made a very great mistake.”

22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

23Yahweh repays each person for his righteousness and faithfulness. Yahweh handed you over to me today, but I would not lift my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.

24Just as your life was precious in my sight today, so may my life be precious in the sight of Yahweh, and may he rescue me from all trouble.”

25Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You will do great things and will surely succeed.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.