26 Some men from Ziph went to visit Saul at Gibeah. They said to him, ‘David is hiding on Hakilah hill, which is across the valley from Jeshimon.’
2 So Saul went to the desert of Ziph to look for David. He took 3,000 strong Israelite soldiers with him. 3 Saul and his men arrived at Hakilah hill, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. They put up their tents beside the road. David heard the news that Saul had followed him into the desert. 4 So David sent some men to see if that was true. They discovered that Saul had arrived at Hakilah.
5 One night, David went secretly to Saul's camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the tents. The leader of his army, Ner's son Abner, was with him. He was asleep too. The army was all around them. David could see all this.
6 David spoke to two of his men. One of them was Ahimelech, a Hittite man. The other man was Abishai, who was Joab's brother (Zeruiah was their mother). David asked them, ‘Which one of you will go down into Saul's camp with me?’ [ a ]
Abishai said, ‘I will come with you.’
7 So David and Abishai went among Saul's army that night. They saw that Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. He had pushed his spear into the ground near his head. Abner and the army were asleep around Saul. 8 Abishai said to David, ‘Tonight God has given your enemy into your power. I will push Saul's spear through his body and fix him to the ground. I will only have to do it once to kill him. I will not need to do it again.’
9 But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not kill Saul. He is the man that the Lord has chosen to be Israel's king. Anyone who attacks him will be guilty of a sin. 10 I know that the Lord himself will kill Saul one day. Saul may die when he has reached the age to die. Or someone may kill him in a battle. He will certainly come to his end. 11 But I ask the Lord to stop me from hurting him, because he is the Lord 's chosen king. Take the spear and the jar of water that are near Saul's head. We must leave here now!’
12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from beside Saul's head. Then they left. Nobody saw them. Nobody knew that they had been in the camp. Nobody woke up. Saul's soldiers continued to sleep because the Lord caused it to happen.
13 David and Abishai then went across the valley to the other side of the hill. David stood on the top of the hill. He was far away from Saul's soldiers. 14 David shouted to Saul's army and to Ner's son, Abner, ‘Abner, wake up! Answer me!’
Abner replied, ‘Who is shouting to wake up the king? Who are you?’
15 David said to Abner, ‘Are you really the bravest soldier in Israel? You should have kept the king safe. Someone came into your camp to kill your master. 16 You have not done your job well. You and your men have not protected your master, who is the Lord 's chosen king. As surely as the Lord lives, you all deserve to die. The king's spear and his water pot were beside his head. Look where they are now!’
17 Saul recognized David's voice. He said, ‘Is that you David, my son?’
David answered, ‘Yes, my master and my king, it is my voice that you can hear.’
18 David also said, ‘Why are you chasing after me, my master? What have I done that is wrong? Why am I guilty? 19 My master and my king, please listen to me. Has the Lord made you angry with me? If that is true, a sacrifice to him may change his thoughts. But if men have made you turn against me, I ask the Lord to curse them. They have chased me out of the land that belongs to the Lord 's people. They have said to me, “Go away and worship other gods!” 20 Do not let me die a long way away from the Lord 's home. You are the king of Israel and I am like a small fly. But you are trying to catch me! You are like someone who is looking for a wild bird in the mountains!’
21 Then Saul said, ‘I have done a bad thing. Return home, David, my son. You chose not to kill me today, because you knew the value of my life. So I will not hurt you again. I have done foolish things. I have made a big mistake.’
22 David said, ‘Here is your own spear. Send one of your young men here to fetch it for you. 23 The Lord wants everyone to do what is right and true. He blesses people who live like that. The Lord put you under my power today. But I would not agree to hurt the Lord 's chosen king. 24 Today I knew that your life is valuable. In the same way, I pray that the Lord will know that my life is valuable. I pray that he will keep me safe through all danger.’
25 Then Saul said to David, ‘I pray that the Lord will bless you, my son. I know that you will do great things.’
So David left there and Saul returned to his home.
26 The people of Ziph went to see Saul at Gibeah and said to him, “David is hiding on Hakilah Hill, across from Jeshimon.”
2 Saul gathered 3000 of the best soldiers in Israel and went down to the desert of Ziph to search for David there. 3 Saul set up his camp by the road at Hakilah Hill, across from Jeshimon.
David was out in the desert and saw that Saul had come out into the desert after him. 4 So David sent out spies to know for certain that Saul had come after him again. 5 Then David went to where Saul had set up his camp. David saw where Saul and Abner were sleeping. (Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul’s army.) Saul was sleeping in the center of a circle of men that surrounded him.
6 David talked to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah. (Abishai was Joab’s brother.) He asked them, “Who would like to go down into the camp with me after Saul?”
Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”
7 When night came, David and Abishai went into Saul’s camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the circle of men. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the other soldiers were asleep around Saul. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has given your enemy to you. Let me pin Saul to the ground with his spear. I’ll only do it once!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill Saul! Anyone who hurts the Lord ’s chosen king [ a ] must be punished. 10 As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will punish Saul. Maybe Saul will die naturally or maybe he will be killed in battle. 11 But I pray that the Lord never lets me hurt the Lord ’s chosen king. Now pick up the spear and water jug by Saul’s head and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head, and then David and Abishai left Saul’s camp. No one knew what had happened. No one saw it. No one even woke up. Saul and all of his soldiers slept because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13 David crossed over to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of the mountain across the valley from Saul’s camp. David and Saul’s camp were far apart. 14 David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Answer me, Abner!”
Abner answered, “Who are you? Why are you calling the king?”
15 David said, “You are an important man, aren’t you? You are better than any other man in Israel. Is that right? So why didn’t you guard your master, the king? An ordinary man came into your camp to kill your master, the king. 16 You made a big mistake. As surely as the Lord is alive, you and your men should die, because you didn’t protect your master, the Lord ’s chosen king. Look for the king’s spear and the water jug that was near Saul’s head. Where are they?”
17 Saul knew David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David answered, “Yes, it is my voice, my lord the king. 18 Sir, why are you chasing me? What wrong have I done? What am I guilty of? 19 My lord the king, listen to me. If the Lord caused you to be angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if men caused you to be angry with me, I ask the Lord to curse them because they forced me to leave the land that the Lord gave me and told me to go serve other gods. 20 Now don’t make me die far away from the Lord ’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea. You are like a man hunting partridges in the mountains.” [ b ]
21 Then Saul said, “David, my son! I have sinned. Come back. Today you showed me that my life is important to you, so I won’t try to hurt you. I have acted foolishly. I have made a big mistake.”
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of your young men come here and get it. 23 The Lord pays every man for what he does—he rewards him if he does right, and he punishes him if he does wrong. The Lord gave you to me today, but I wouldn’t harm the Lord ’s chosen king. 24 Today I showed you that your life is important to me. In the same way the Lord will show that my life is important to him. He will save me from every trouble.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “God bless you, David my son. You will do great things and you will win.”
David went on his way, and Saul went back home.
26 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord 's anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord 's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord 's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord ; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord , saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord : for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord 's anointed.
24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord , and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “ ( A ) Is David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite [ a ] Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, [ b ] taking with him ( B ) 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 [ c ] Jeshimon, ( C ) beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When ( D ) 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 ( E ) 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 ( F ) the Hittite and to ( G ) Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who ( H ) 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 [ d ] pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not [ e ] do it to him a second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not [ f ] kill him, for ( I ) who can reach out with his hand against the Lord ’ s anointed and remain innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, ( J ) the Lord certainly will strike him, or ( K ) his day will come that he dies, or ( L ) he will go down in battle and [ g ] perish. 11 ( M ) 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 ( N ) 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 [ h ] kill the king your lord! 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you undoubtedly [ i ] ( O ) 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, “ ( P ) Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “ ( Q ) 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 ( R ) the Lord has incited you against me, ( S ) may He [ j ] accept an offering; but ( T ) if it is [ k ] people, cursed [ l ] are they before the Lord , because ( U ) 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 ( V ) a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “ ( W ) 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 ( X ) the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord handed you over to me today, but ( Y ) I refused to reach out with my hand against the Lord ’ s anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was ( Z ) highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord , and may He ( AA ) rescue me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “ ( AB ) Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So ( AC ) David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
26 The Ziphites ( A ) went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding ( B ) on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon? ( C ) ”
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search ( D ) there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah ( E ) facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner ( F ) son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite ( G ) and Abishai ( H ) son of Zeruiah, ( I ) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord ’s anointed ( J ) and be guiltless? ( K ) 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike ( L ) him, or his time ( M ) will come and he will die, ( N ) or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord ’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. ( O )
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord ’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, ( P ) David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong ( Q ) am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen ( R ) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. ( S ) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord ! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord ’s inheritance ( T ) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ( U ) 20 Now do not let my blood ( V ) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord . The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea ( W ) —as one hunts a partridge in the mountains. ( X ) ”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. ( Y ) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious ( Z ) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards ( AA ) everyone for their righteousness ( AB ) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered ( AC ) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord ’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver ( AD ) me from all trouble.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, ( AE ) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
