1Sa 26 | NASB2020 | STEP | Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah , saying , “ Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah , which is opposite Jeshimon ?”

1 Samuel 26

David Again Spares Saul

1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “ ^aIs David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ^{▼▼Or the desert}Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, ^{▼▼Lit and with him}taking with him ^dthree thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ^{▼▼Or the desert}Jeshimon, ^fbeside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When ^ghe saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then set out and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and ^hAbner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech ⁱthe Hittite and to ^jAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who ^kwill go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me ^{▼▼Lit strike him...even into}pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not ^{▼▼Lit repeat it to him}do it to him a second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not ^{▼▼Lit destroy}kill him, for ^owho can reach out with his hand against the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, ^pthe Lord certainly will strike him, or ^qhis day will come that he dies, or ^rhe will go down in battle and ^{▼▼Lit be carried away}perish. 11 ^tThe Lord forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let’s go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul’s head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because ^ua deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 And David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to ^{▼▼Lit destroy}kill the king your lord! 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you undoubtedly ^{▼▼Lit are sons of death
,} ^xmust die, because you did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!”

17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “ ^yIs this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “ ^zWhy then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If ^aathe Lord has incited you against me, ^abmay He ^{▼▼Lit smell}accept an offering; but ^adif it is ^{▼▼Lit the sons of mankind}people, cursed ^{▼▼Or may they be}are they before the Lord, because ^agthey have driven me out today so that I would have no share in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for ^aha single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “ ^aiI have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake.” 22 David replied, “Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And ^ajthe Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord handed you over to me today, but ^akI refused to reach out with my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was ^alhighly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He ^amrescue me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “ ^anBlessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So ^aoDavid went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.