1 Samuel 26

26 ¹ Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah: "Isn't David hiding on Hachilah hill, facing Jeshimon?" ² Saul went down to the Wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to search for David there. ³ Saul camped on Hachilah hill facing Jeshimon beside the road, while David stayed in the wilderness. David saw Saul had followed him into the wilderness, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had indeed arrived. ⁵ David went to the place where Saul had camped, and saw where Saul lay with Abner son of Ner, his army commander. Saul lay inside the camp, troops surrounding him. ⁶ David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who'll go down with me to Saul's camp?" Abishai said, "I'll go down with you."

⁷ David and Abishai came to the troops at night. Saul lay asleep in camp, spear stuck in the ground by his head, Abner and the troops around him. ⁸ Abishai said to David, "Our Father has given your enemy into your hand today. So let me strike him to the ground with one spear—no second thrust needed."

⁹ But David told Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can strike our Father's anointed and stay guiltless?" ¹⁰ David said, "As our Father lives, our Father will strike him, or his day comes and he dies, or he goes into battle and is destroyed." ¹¹ Far be it, before our Father, to raise my hand against our Father's anointed. Now take the spear at his head, the water jug, and let's go.

¹² David took the spear and water jug from beside Saul's head; they left. No one saw, knew, or woke, for a deep sleep from our Father had fallen on them all.

¹³ Then David crossed over and stood on a distant hilltop, a wide gap between them. ¹⁴ He called to the troops and Abner son of Ner: "Won't you answer, Abner?" "Who are you, calling to the king?" Abner replied.

¹⁵ David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy the king, your lord." ¹⁶ You've done wrong. As our Father lives, you deserve death for not guarding your lord, our Father's anointed. Now look—where are the king's spear and water jug by his head?

¹⁷ Saul recognized David's voice: "Is that your voice, my son David?" David said, "My voice, my lord the king."

¹⁸ He said, "Why does my lord chase his servant? What have I done, what wrong in my hand?" ¹⁹ May my lord the king hear his servant's words: if our Father stirred you against me, may he accept an offering; but if men have, may they be cursed before him—for today they've driven me from my share in his inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' ²⁰ Don't let my blood fall to the ground, far from our Father's presence — Israel's king comes out to hunt one flea, like chasing a partridge in the mountains.

²¹ Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, since my life was precious in your eyes today. I have been foolish and gravely mistaken."

²² David answered, "Here is the king's spear. Let a young man come get it." ²³ Our Father repays everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. Today he gave you into my hand, but I wouldn't raise my hand against his anointed. ²⁴ As I valued your life today, may our Father value mine and rescue me from all trouble.

²⁵ Saul told David, "Blessed are you, my son David — you will surely act, and surely prevail." David went his way; Saul returned home.