1 The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn’t David hide
himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert? 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 Saul
encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, 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 of a certainty. 5 David arose, and came to the place where Saul had
encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner,
the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the
people were encamped 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? Abishai said, I will go
down with you. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and,
behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear
stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about
him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into
your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to
the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.
9 David said to Abishai, Don’t destroy him; for who can put forth his hand
against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said, As Yahweh
lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go
down into battle and perish. 11 Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my
hand against Yahweh’s anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his
head, and the jar of water, and let us go. 12 So David took the spear and
the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they got them away: and no man saw it,
nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep
sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them. 13 Then David went over to the other
side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being
between them; 14 and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of
Ner, saying, Don’t you answer, Abner? Then Abner answered, Who are you who
cries to the king? 15 David said to Abner, Aren’t you a valiant
man? and who is like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over
your lord, the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king
your lord. 16 This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives,
you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your
lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of
water that was at his head. 17 Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this
your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18 He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I
done? or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, please let my lord the
king hear the words of his servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up
against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men,
cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I
shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the
presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as
when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains. 21 Then said Saul, I have
sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life
was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have
erred exceedingly. 22 David answered, Behold the spear, O king! let then
one of the young men come over and get it. 23 Yahweh will render to every
man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into
my hand today, and I wouldn’t put forth my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.
24 Behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my
life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him deliver me out of all
oppression. 25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you
shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and
Saul returned to his place.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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