09:026:001 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon?
09:026:002 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.
09:026:003 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.
09:026:004 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was
come in very deed.
09:026:005 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.
09:026:006 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.
09:026:007 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.
09:026:008 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.
09:026:009 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be
guiltless?
09:026:010 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.
09:026:011 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.
09:026:012 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.
09:026:013 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top
of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
09:026:014 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?
09:026:015 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.
09:026:016 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.
09:026:017 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.
09:026:018 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
09:026:019 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.
09:026:020 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.
09:026:021 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.
09:026:022 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let
one of the young men come over and fetch it.
09:026:023 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.
09:026:024 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.
09:026:025 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.