1 Samuel 26:9

9 And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who has stretched forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and remained innocent?

1 Samuel 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, destroy him not
He laid his commands upon him not to hurt him:

for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be
guiltless?
since Saul was king, and appointed to that office by the Lord, and was anointed by his order for it, and invested with it by him, his person was sacred, and not to be touched; nor could his life be taken away by any without being guilty of a very great crime indeed, which it might be justly expected the Lord would resent and punish.

1 Samuel 26:9 In-Context

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 head, but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then Abishai said to David, God has delivered thy enemy into thy hand today; now, therefore, let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear and pin him to the earth at once, and I will not need a second opportunity.

9 And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who has stretched forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and remained innocent?

10 David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, if the LORD does not smite him or his day comes to die or he descends into battle and perishes,

11 the LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORD’s anointed; but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his head and the cruse of water and let us go.