1 Samuel 26 Study Notes

26:15 The phrase one of the people came to destroy him may refer to Abishai, who wanted to destroy Saul (v. 8), or hypothetically to David himself, who could have destroyed Saul as he stood over him.

26:16-19 David could identify only two sources of Saul’s desire to kill him—the Lord or the people. If the Lord, David wanted Saul to allow him to sacrifice a freewill offering to restore the broken fellowship between himself, God, and Saul. But if people had falsely accused him, David called on them to be cursed. Their false accusations had the effect of driving David away from the inheritance of the Lord, treating him as if he were not an Israelite.

26:20 David compared himself to a single flea (24:14) or a partridge to suggest Saul’s pursuit of him was a waste of resources.

26:21 Saul’s words sounded repentant, but Saul’s past actions raised serious doubts in David’s mind about their genuineness.

26:22 David’s suggestion that one of the young men of Saul retrieve the king’s spear was a tactful way of saying he was not returning with Saul.

26:23-24 David called on the Lord to repay those involved (especially him and Saul) as God saw their hearts. David did not ask for Saul to consider his life valuable; he asked for the Lord to do so.

26:25 Saul’s words appear to be an admission that God had great things in store for his son-in-law. The two went on their way, having spoken the last words they would ever say to each other.