David Spares Saul a Second Time
1 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying,“Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, havingthree thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, whichisopposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.
5 So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, andAbner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.
6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishaithe son of Zeruiah, brother ofJoab, saying, “Who willgo down with me to Saul in the camp?”
# AndAbishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.
8 Then Abishai said to David,“God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will nothavetostrikehim a second time!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him;for who can stretch out his hand against theLord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
10 David said furthermore, “AstheLordlives,theLordshall strike him, orhis day shall come to die, or he shallgo out to battle and perish.
11 TheLordforbid that I should stretch out my hand against theLord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water thatareby his head, and let us go.”
12 So David took the spear and the jug of waterbySaul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knewitor awoke. For theywereall asleep, becausea deep sleep from theLordhad fallen on them.
13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distancebeingbetween them.
14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”
Then Abner answered and said, “Whoareyou, calling out to the king?”
15 So David said to Abner, “Areyou not a man? And whoislike you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king.
16 This thing that you have doneisnot good.AstheLordlives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, theLord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spearis,and the jug of water thatwasby his head.”
17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said,“Isthat your voice, my son David?”
David said, “Itismy voice, my lord, O king.”
18 And he said,“Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evilisin my hand?
19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If theLordhasstirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But ifitisthe children of men,maytheybecursed before theLord,for they have driven me out this day from sharing in theinheritance of theLord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of theLord. For the king of Israel has come out to seeka flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said,“I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”
22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23 May theLordrepay every manforhis righteousness and his faithfulness; for theLorddelivered you intomyhand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against theLord’s anointed.
24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of theLord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “Mayyoubeblessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also stillprevail.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.