1 Samuel 26:18

18 And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his slave? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

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 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD lives, ye are worthy to die because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the cruse of water that was at his head.

17 And Saul knew David’s voice and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

18 And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his slave? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

19 Now, therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his slave. If the LORD has stirred thee up against me, let him smell the fragrance of an offering, but if they were the sons of men, let them be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from joining myself to the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.