Shmuel Alef 26:11

11 Chalilah (far be it) from me by Hashem that I should stretch forth mine yad against Hashem’s moshiach; but, take now thou the khanit (spear) that is at his head, and the flask of mayim, and let us go.

Shmuel Alef 26:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:11

The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against
the Lord's anointed
Or suffer any about him to do it; he speaks of it with the utmost detestation and abhorrence:

but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster;
not to smite him with, as he desired, but to carry off, and was no other than his sceptre; (See Gill on 1 Samuel 20:33);

and the cruse of water;
which stood in the same place, as appears by ( 1 Samuel 26:12 ) . Some take this to be a pot to make water in; others an hourglass, to know the time of night, in which not sand, but water, flowed for that purpose: but rather this was for his refreshment should he be hot and thirsty in the night, or to purify him from any nocturnal pollution that might happen; for, according to Clemens of Alexandria {m}, it was a custom of the Jews often to purify themselves in bed: though Fortunatus Scacchus F14 thinks Saul had this pot or cup for a religious use; which he had with him, and with it gave thanks to God, the author of all good, whenever he sat down to a meal; such as the golden cup Philip king of Macedon always had under his pillow when he slept F15:

and let us go;
and do nothing more; which would be sufficient to convince they had been there, and to show what was in their power to do, had they been so inclined.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 Stromat. l. 4. p. 531.
F14 Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. I. c. 44. col. 224.
F15 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 33. c. 3.

Shmuel Alef 26:11 In-Context

9 And Dovid said to Avishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his yad against Hashem’s moshiach, and be guiltless?
10 Dovid said furthermore, As Hashem liveth, Hashem shall strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into milchamah, and perish.
11 Chalilah (far be it) from me by Hashem that I should stretch forth mine yad against Hashem’s moshiach; but, take now thou the khanit (spear) that is at his head, and the flask of mayim, and let us go.
12 So Dovid took the khanit and the flask of mayim from near Sha’ul’s head; and they got them away, and no one saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep; because a tardamat Hashem was fallen upon them.
13 Then Dovid went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the har afar off; a great space being between them;
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