Shmuel Alef 26:18

18 And he said, Why doth adoni thus pursue after his eved? For what have I done? Or what ra’ah is in mine yad?

Shmuel Alef 26:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:18

And he said, wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
servant?
&c.] Suggesting that it was both below him to do it, and against his interest; for David was his servant, and he would gladly have continued in his service, and done his business, but he drove him from it, and pursued him as a traitor, when he had not been guilty of any offence to his knowledge: and therefore puts the following questions:

for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?
what crime had he committed, that he was pursued after this manner, and his life sought for? what had he done worthy of death? having a clear conscience, he could boldly ask these questions.

Shmuel Alef 26:18 In-Context

16 This thing is not tov that thou hast done. As Hashem liveth, ye are worthy for mavet, because ye have not been shomer over adoneichem, Hashem’s moshiach. And now see where the khanit of HaMelech is, and the flask of mayim that was near his head.

17 And Sha’ul knew the voice of Dovid, and said, Is this thy voice, beni, Dovid? And Dovid said, It is my voice, adoni HaMelech.

18 And he said, Why doth adoni thus pursue after his eved? For what have I done? Or what ra’ah is in mine yad?

19 Now therefore, let adoni HaMelech hear the devarim of his eved. If Hashem have stirred thee up against me, let Him accept a minchah; but if they be bnei adam, cursed be they before Hashem; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the nachalah of Hashem, saying, Go, serve elohim acharim.

20 Now therefore, let not my dahm fall to the earth before the face of Hashem; for the Melech Yisroel is come out to search for a parosh (flea), as when one doth hunt the partridge in the harim.