I Samuel

aCf. 23.19 and note. The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding in the hill of Hachilah facing Jeshimon.”

Saul went down at once to the wilderness of Ziph, together with three thousand of Israel’s best troops, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph,

and Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah that faces Jeshimon, by the road. When David, who was then living in the wilderness, learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

David sent out scouts and made sure that Saul had come.

David went at once to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the spot where Saul and his army commander, Abner son of Ner, lay asleep. Saul lay asleep inside the barricadebbarricade Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. 17.20. and the troops were posted around him.

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

So David and Abishai approached the troops by night, and found Saul fast asleep inside the barricade,cbarricade See note at v. 5. his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the troops sleeping around him.

And Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hands today. Let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust of the spear. I will not have to strike him twice.”

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t do him violence! No one can lay hands on GOD’s anointed with impunity.”

And David went on, “As GOD lives, GOD will strike him down directly, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go down to battle and perish.

But GOD forbid that I should lay a hand on GOD’s anointed! Just take the spear and the water jar at his head and let’s be off.”

So David took away the spear and the water jar at Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew or woke up; all remained asleep; a deep sleep from GOD had fallen upon them.

David crossed over to the other side and stood afar on top of a hill; there was considerable distance between them.

And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Abner, aren’t you going to answer?” And Abner shouted back, “Who are you to shout at the king?”

And David answered Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you?dYou are a man, aren’t you? Or “Aren’t you the one [I hailed]?” And there is no one like you in Israel! So why didn’t you keep watch over your lord the king? For one of [our] troops came to do violence to your lord the king.

You have not given a good account of yourself! As GOD lives, you all deserve to die, because you did not keep watch over your lord, GOD’s anointed. Look around, where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were at his head?”

Saul recognized David’s voice, and he asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And David replied, “It is, my lord king.”

And he went on, “But why does my lord continue to pursue his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?

Now let my lord the king hear his servant out. If GOD has incited you against me, let an offering provide appeasement;eappeasement Cf. Amos 5.21. but if it was other people, may they be accursed of GOD! For they have driven me out today, so that I cannot have a share in GOD’s possession, but am told, ‘Go and worship other gods.’

Oh, let my blood not fall to the ground, away from GOD’s presence! For the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea—as if he were hunting a partridge in the hills.”

And Saul answered, “I am in the wrong. Come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, seeing how you have held my life precious this day. Yes, I have been a fool, and I have erred so very much.”

David replied, “Here is Your Majesty’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

And GOD will requite everyone for their right conduct and loyalty—for this day GOD delivered you into myfmy So many mss.; other mss. and editions omit. hands andgGOD will requite … into my hands and Or “may GOD requite, for his right conduct and loyalty, the man into whose hands GOD delivered you this day—for”; cf. Abravanel. I would not raise a hand against GOD’s anointed.

And just as I valued your life highly this day, so may GOD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

Saul answered David, “May you be blessed, my son David. You shall achieve, and you shall prevail.”David then went his way, and Saul returned home.