1 Samuel 26:18

18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?

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 isn’t good at all! I swear by the LORD that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the LORD ’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king.
18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?
19 But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the LORD . For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the LORD ’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’
20 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the LORD ? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”
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