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David Again Spares Saul

¹ Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "^(C1)Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ^(F1)Jeshimon?"² So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, ^(F1)taking with him ^(C1)three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.³ And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ^(F1)Jeshimon, ^(C1)beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When ^(C2)he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,⁴ David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.⁵ David then set out and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and ^(C1)Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

⁶ Then David said to Ahimelech ^(C1)the Hittite and to ^(C2)Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, "Who ^(C3)will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you."⁷ So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him.⁸ Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me ^(F1)pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not ^(F2)do it to him a second time."⁹ But David said to Abishai, "Do not ^(F1)kill him, for ^(C1)who can reach out with his hand against the LORD'S anointed and remain innocent?"¹⁰ David also said, "As the LORD lives, ^(C1)the LORD certainly will strike him, or ^(C2)his day will come that he dies, or ^(C3)he will go down in battle and ^(F1)perish.¹¹ "^(C1)The LORD forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let's go."¹² So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul's head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because ^(C1)a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them.¹⁴ And David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"¹⁵ So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to ^(F1)kill the king your lord!¹⁶ "This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you undoubtedly ^(F1)(C1)must die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!"

¹⁷ Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "^(C1)Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king."¹⁸ He also said, "^(C1)Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?¹⁹ "Now then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If ^(C1)the LORD has incited you against me, ^(C2)may He ^(F1)accept an offering; but ^(C3)if it is ^(F2)people, cursed ^(F3)are they before the LORD, because ^(C4)they have driven me out today so that I would have no share in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'²⁰ "Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for ^(C1)a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

²¹ Then Saul said, "^(C1)I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake."²² David replied, "Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it.²³ "And ^(C1)the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD handed you over to me today, but ^(C2)I refused to reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed.²⁴ "Therefore behold, just as your life was ^(C1)highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He ^(C2)rescue me from all distress."²⁵ Then Saul said to David, "^(C1)Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail." So ^(C2)David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.