1 Samuel 26

1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Did you know that David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which faces the Jeshimon?” 2So Saul got up and went down into the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand of Israel’s best soldiers, to hunt for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3Saul made camp beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, facing the Jeshimon. David was living out in the wilderness, and he realized that Saul had followed him there. 4So David sent out scouts and learned that Saul had indeed arrived. 5Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had made camp. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying. Saul lay inside the ring of the camp, with the troops camped all around him. 6David turned to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and asked, “Who will go down with me into the camp, to Saul?” “I will go with you,” Abishai answered. 7So David and Abishai went to the troops by night. There was Saul, lying asleep inside the ring of the camp, his spear thrust into the ground by his head, while Abner and the troops lay around him.

8Abishai said to David, “God has put your enemy in your power today. Now please let me drive the spear through him into the ground. One blow is all it will take; I will not need another.” 9But David said to Abishai, “Do not kill him. Who could raise his hand against the LORD’s anointed and not be held guilty?”

10David went on, “As surely as the LORD lives, it is the LORD who will strike him down. Either his time will come and he will die, or he will go out to battle and be cut down. 11May the LORD keep me from ever raising my hand against the LORD’s anointed! Now pick up the spear beside his head and the water jug, and let us be on our way.” 12So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul’s head, and the two of them left. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up. They were all asleep, because the LORD had sent a deep sleep on them. 13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some way off, with a wide space between them. 14David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Abner, are you not going to answer?” Abner replied, “Who are you, to call out to the king?”

15David said to Abner, “You are a man, are you not? Who else in Israel is like you? Then why did you not guard your lord the king? One of the people came in to kill the king, your lord. 16You have not done well at all. As surely as the LORD lives, you all deserve to die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where is the king’s spear, and the water jug that was by his head?” 17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied, “It is, my lord the king.” 18He went on, “Why is my lord chasing after his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I committed? 19Now please, my lord the king, listen to the words of your servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering. But if it is human beings, may they be cursed before the LORD! For they have driven me out today from my share in the LORD’s inheritance, as if to say, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20So now, do not let my blood be spilled on the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to hunt for a single flea, the way someone chases a partridge through the hills.” 21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. My son David, come back. Since you held my life precious today, I will not do you harm again. I have been a fool, and I have done a very great wrong.” 22David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of your young men come across and get it. 23The LORD repays each person for his righteousness and his faithfulness. Today the LORD put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24Just as your life mattered greatly to me today, so may my life matter greatly to the LORD, and may he rescue me from every trouble.”

25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David! Whatever you set out to do, you will accomplish it, and you will win in the end.” Then David went his way, and Saul returned home.