Shmuel Alef 26:9

9 And Dovid said to Avishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his yad against Hashem’s moshiach, and be guiltless?

Shmuel Alef 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, destroy him not
He laid his commands upon him not to hurt him:

for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be
guiltless?
since Saul was king, and appointed to that office by the Lord, and was anointed by his order for it, and invested with it by him, his person was sacred, and not to be touched; nor could his life be taken away by any without being guilty of a very great crime indeed, which it might be justly expected the Lord would resent and punish.

Shmuel Alef 26:9 In-Context

7 So Dovid and Avishai came to HaAm by lailah; and, hinei, Sha’ul lay sleeping within the camp, and his khanit (spear) stuck in the ground at his head; but Avner and HaAm lay round about him.

8 Then said Avishai to Dovid, Elohim hath delivered thine oyev into thine yad today; now therefore let me strike him, now, with the khanit, pinning him to the ground once; I will not strike him the second time.

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.