1 Samuel 26:18

18 et ait quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum quid feci aut quod est in manu mea malum

1 Samuel 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.

1 Samuel 26:18 In-Context

16 non est bonum hoc quod fecisti vivit Dominus quoniam filii mortis estis vos qui non custodistis dominum vestrum christum Domini nunc ergo vide ubi sit hasta regis et ubi scyphus aquae qui erat ad caput eius

17 cognovit autem Saul vocem David et dixit num vox tua est haec fili mi David et David vox mea domine mi rex

18 et ait quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum quid feci aut quod est in manu mea malum

19 nunc ergo audi oro domine mi rex verba servi tui si Dominus incitat te adversum me odoretur sacrificium si autem filii hominum maledicti sunt in conspectu Domini qui eiecerunt me hodie ut non habitem in hereditate Domini dicentes vade servi diis alienis

20 et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terra coram Domino quia egressus est rex Israhel ut quaerat pulicem unum sicut persequitur perdix in montibus