1 Samuel 26:6-9

6 Then David said to Ahimelech 1the Hittite and to 2Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, "Who 3will 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 delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for 4who can stretch out his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be without guilt?"

1 Samuel 26:6-9 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 4

  • 1. Genesis 23:3; Genesis 26:34; Joshua 3:10; 1 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 7:6
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 2:16
  • 3. Judges 7:10, 11
  • 4. 1 Samuel 24:6, 7; 2 Samuel 1:14, 16

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "even into"
  • [b]. Lit "repeat with respect to him"
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