1 Samuel 26:18-20

18 And he said, ¹"Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?

19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, ²for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in ³the heritage of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek ⁴a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

1 Samuel 26:18-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 26

This chapter relates that Saul, upon the information of the Ziphites, went out again with an armed force to seek David, 1Sa 26:1-3; of which David having intelligence, and of the place where he pitched, came with one of his men and reconnoitred his camp, and finding Saul and his men asleep, took away his spear, and the cruse of water at his head, and departed, without taking away his life, though solicited to it by his servant, 1Sa 26:4-12; which spear and cruse of water he produced to the reproach of Abner, Saul's general, and as a testimony of his sincere regard to Saul, and that he had no design upon his life, 1Sa 26:13-20; of which Saul being convinced, blessed David, and returned home again, 1Sa 26:21-25.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 24:9, 11
• 2. [Psalms 120:5]
• 3. 2 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 20:19; 2 Samuel 21:3
• 4. 1 Samuel 24:14