1 Samuel 26:16-25

16 "This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you ¹must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head."

17 Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "²Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king."

18 He also said, "³Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

19 "Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If ⁴the LORD has stirred you up against me, ⁵let Him accept an offering; but ⁶if it is men *, cursed are they before the LORD, for ⁷they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

20 "Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for ⁸a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 Then Saul said, "⁹I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because * my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious * error."

22 David replied, "Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.

23 "¹⁰The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but ¹¹I refused * to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed.

24 "Now behold, as your life was ¹²highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He ¹³deliver me from all distress."

25 Then Saul said to David, "¹⁴Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail." So ¹⁵David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

1 Samuel 26:16-25 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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 20:31
• 2. 1 Samuel 24:16
• 3. 1 Sam 24:9, 11-14
• 4. 2 Samuel 16:11
• 5. Genesis 8:21
• 6. 1 Samuel 24:9
• 7. Joshua 22:25-27
• 8. 1 Samuel 24:14
• 9. Exodus 9:27; 1 Samuel 15:24, 30; 1 Samuel 24:17
• 10. 1 Samuel 24:19; Psalms 7:8; Psalms 18:20; Psalms 62:12
• 11. 1 Samuel 24:12
• 12. 1 Samuel 18:30
• 13. Psalms 54:7
• 14. 1 Samuel 24:19
• 15. 1 Samuel 24:22

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "are surely sons of death"
• [b] Lit "smell"
• [c] Lit "sons of men"