1 Samuel 26:4-14

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha'ul was come of a certainty.

5 David arose, and came to the place where Sha'ul had encamped; and David saw the place where Sha'ul lay, and Aviner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Sha'ul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him.

6 Then answered David and said to Achimelekh the Hittite, and to Avishai the son of Tzeru'yah, brother to Yo'av, saying, Who will go down with me to Sha'ul to the camp? Avishai said, I will go down with you.

7 So David and Avishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Sha'ul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Aviner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then said Avishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the eretz at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.

9 David said to Avishai, Don't destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?

10 David said, As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.

11 The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD's anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.

12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Sha'ul's head; and they got them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen on them.

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;

14 and David cried to the people, and to Aviner the son of Ner, saying, Don't you answer, Aviner? Then Aviner answered, Who are you who cries to the king?

1 Samuel 26:4-14 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.