1 Samuel 26

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 26

1¶ And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is] before Jeshimon?

2Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

6¶ Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the second time.

9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

10David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw [it], nor knew [it], neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

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

14And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?

15And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.

17And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my lord, O king.

18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?

19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21¶ Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

24And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Ziphites again betray David to Saul, who pursues him with three thousand men into the wilderness. David infiltrates Saul's camp by night, finding the king asleep, but refuses to harm "the LORD's anointed" despite Abishai's urging. Instead, David takes Saul's spear and water cruse, later confronting Saul from a distance to demonstrate his restraint, leading Saul to acknowledge his sin and cease the pursuit.

Medium Summary

Chapter 26 recounts the Ziphites' second betrayal of David to King Saul, prompting Saul to pursue David with a large army into the wilderness of Ziph. David, aware of Saul's encampment, ventures into the sleeping camp with Abishai. Abishai proposes to kill Saul, but David firmly forbids it, declaring that he would not lay a hand on "the LORD's anointed," trusting God to deal with Saul. Instead, David takes Saul's spear and water cruse, enabled by a deep sleep from the LORD that fell upon Saul's men. From a distant hill, David then calls out to Abner, shaming him for his negligence in protecting the king, and displays the taken items as proof of his presence and restraint. Saul recognizes David's voice, confesses his sin, and acknowledges David's righteousness in sparing his life. Saul promises to cease his pursuit, and David expresses his trust in God's deliverance, after which they part ways.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the Ziphites once more informing King Saul of David's hiding place in the hill of Hachilah, prompting Saul to gather three thousand chosen men and pursue David into the wilderness of Ziph. David, observing Saul's arrival, dispatches spies to confirm the king's presence. Under the cover of night, David, accompanied by Abishai, stealthily approaches Saul's encampment, finding the king asleep within his trench with his spear stuck by his bolster, surrounded by his sleeping captain Abner and the rest of the army. Abishai, seeing this opportune moment, urges David to allow him to strike Saul dead with the spear, believing God had delivered their enemy into their hands. However, David adamantly refuses, asserting that no one can stretch forth his hand against "the LORD's anointed" and remain guiltless, leaving Saul's fate to divine judgment or battle. Instead of killing Saul, David instructs Abishai to take only Saul's spear and water cruse from his bolster. A profound sleep, described as being from the LORD, had fallen upon all of Saul's men, ensuring David and Abishai's undetected departure. David then crosses to a distant hill and calls out to Abner, publicly shaming him for his failure to guard the king, implying that someone had come to destroy Saul. As proof of his infiltration and restraint, David displays Saul's spear and water cruse. Saul recognizes David's voice and questions why David continues to be pursued. David responds by questioning his own wrongdoing and appealing to Saul to consider if God or men were stirring him up, lamenting his expulsion from the LORD's inheritance. Saul, humbled by David's actions, confesses his sin, acknowledges his foolishness, and promises to cease his harmful pursuit, recognizing that David had valued his life. David, in turn, reiterates his refusal to harm the LORD's anointed and expresses his faith that the LORD will deliver him from all tribulation, just as he had spared Saul. Saul then blesses David, predicting his future success and prevalence. The chapter concludes with David and Saul departing from each other, Saul returning to his place.

Core Concepts

  • The LORD's AnointedDavid's unwavering refusal to harm King Saul, repeatedly referring to him as "the LORD's anointed," demonstrates a profound respect for God's chosen authority, even when that authority is hostile. This principle underscores David's faith that divine judgment, not human vengeance, should determine Saul's fate.
  • Divine ProvidenceThe "deep sleep from the LORD" that falls upon Saul's camp highlights God's direct intervention, enabling David and Abishai to approach and depart undetected. This event illustrates God's protective hand over David and His orchestration of events.
  • David's RighteousnessDavid's decision to spare Saul's life, despite having a clear opportunity, showcases his moral integrity and faithfulness to God's principles. His actions stand in stark contrast to Saul's relentless pursuit and demonstrate David's character as a man after God's own heart.
  • Saul's RepentanceSaul's confession of sin ("I have sinned") and acknowledgment of his foolishness, coupled with his promise to cease pursuing David, indicates a moment of genuine, albeit fleeting, remorse. This highlights the cyclical nature of Saul's spiritual state throughout his reign.
  • Trust in God's DeliveranceDavid's declaration that "the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish" (v. 10) and his subsequent prayer for God to deliver him from tribulation (v. 24) exemplify his deep trust in God's ultimate justice and protection. He relies on divine timing and methods rather than taking matters into his own hands.
  • The Futility of PursuitDavid's analogy of Saul hunting "a flea" or "a partridge in the mountains" (v. 20) powerfully conveys the absurdity and unworthiness of the king of Israel pursuing an innocent servant. It underscores the disproportionate and misguided nature of Saul's obsession.