1 Samuel 26:7

7 venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius

1 Samuel 26:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:7

So David and Abishai came to the people by night
Josephus

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 wrongly says, that he took with him both Abishai and Ahimelech; he chose to have but one, for the greater secrecy. This was a bold enterprise, for two men to go into a camp of three thousand men, though it was in the night; when though they might suppose the greater part of them were asleep, yet they could not well suppose this of all, and especially of the guards or sentinels; but no doubt David was moved to this, not merely by the dint of his natural courage, but by the Spirit of God, by whom he might be assured of protection, and that Saul and the people were cast into a deep sleep by the Lord, as they were, ( 1 Samuel 26:12 ) ; and this the Lord moved him to, that he might have an opportunity a second time to convince Saul of his innocence, and that he had no design upon his life:

and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench;
(See Gill on 1 Samuel 26:5);

and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster;
ready to take up and defend himself, should he be surprised; or this was his sceptre, which he always carried about with him, as an ensign of royalty, and by which very probably David knew which was Saul's tent or couch, where he slept:

but Abner and the people lay round about him;
as in ( 1 Samuel 26:5 ) .

F12 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9.

1 Samuel 26:7 In-Context

5 et surrexit David et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul cumque vidisset locum in quo dormiebat Saul et Abner filius Ner princeps militiae eius Saulem dormientem in tentorio et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius

6 ait David ad Ahimelech Cettheum et Abisai filium Sarviae fratrem Ioab dicens quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra dixitque Abisai ego descendam tecum

7 venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius

8 dixitque Abisai ad David conclusit Deus hodie inimicum tuum in manus tuas nunc ergo perfodiam eum lancea in terra semel et secundo opus non erit

9 et dixit David ad Abisai ne interficias eum quis enim extendit manum suam in christum Domini et innocens erit