1 Samuel 26

1 Then the Ziphites came out of the dry country to Saul at the hill, and said, “Look — David is hiding with us on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon.” [a] 2 So Saul got up and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand men chosen out of Israel, to look for David in the wilderness of Ziph. † 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon, by the road; and David was staying in the wilderness. And David saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 and he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had come, ready for him, from Keilah.

5 Then David got up in secret and went to the place where Saul was sleeping. Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, was there, and Saul was asleep in the wagon, and the people were camped in a ring around him. [b] 6 And David spoke up and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, “Who will go in with me to Saul, into the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go in with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went in among the people by night, and there was Saul, fast asleep in the wagon, with his spear driven into the ground by his head; and Abner and his men were sleeping around him. 8 And Abishai said to David, “Today the Lord has shut your enemy up in your hands. Let me strike him through to the ground with the spear, once — I will not have to strike him twice.”

9 And David said to Abishai, “Do not bring him low. Who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed one and be held innocent?” [c] 10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, unless the Lord strikes him down, or his day comes and he dies, or he goes down into battle and is gathered to his fathers — [d] 11 may it never be mine, from the Lord, to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed one. Now take the spear from beside his head, and the flask of water, and let us go away by ourselves.” [e] 12 So David took the spear and the flask of water from beside his head, and they went away by themselves. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke — they were all asleep, because a stupor from the Lord had fallen on them. [f]

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill far off, with a great distance between them. 14 And David called out to the people, and spoke to Abner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” And Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling to me?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Then why have you not guarded your lord the king? One of the people went in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die — you who guard your lord the king, the Lord’s anointed one. Now look: the king’s spear, and the flask of water — where are the things that were by his head?” [g]

17 And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is your servant, my lord the king.” 18 And he said, “Why is my lord chasing after his servant like this? What have I sinned, and what wrong has been found in me? 19 And now let my lord the king listen to the word of his servant. If it is God who is stirring you up against me, may he smell your sacrifice; but if it is the sons of men, they are cursed before the Lord, because they have driven me out today so that I have no standing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ [h] 20 And now do not let my blood fall to the ground before the face of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to hunt for my life, as the night raven hunts in the mountains.” [i]

21 And Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I will not harm you, because my life was held precious in your eyes today. I have played the fool, and I have gone wrong in a great many things.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And the Lord will pay back to each one his righteousness and his faithfulness — for the Lord gave you into my hands today, and I would not lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed one. 24 And see: as your life was counted great today in my eyes, so may my life be counted great before the Lord, and may he shelter me and bring me out of every trouble.” 25 And Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son. You will surely do great things, and you will surely prevail.” And David went on his way, and Saul went back to his own place.