1 And the Ziphites H2130 came H935 unto Saul H7586 to Gibeah, H1390 saying, H559 Doth not David H1732 hide H5641 himself in the hill H1389 of Hachilah, H2444 which is before H6440 Jeshimon? H3452
2 Then Saul H7586 arose, H6965 and went down H3381 to the wilderness H4057 of Ziph, H2128 having three H7969 thousand H505 chosen H977 men H376 of Israel H3478 with him, to seek H1245 David H1732 in the wilderness H4057 of Ziph. H2128
3 And Saul H7586 pitched H2583 in the hill H1389 of Hachilah, H2444 which is before H6440 Jeshimon, H3452 by the way. H1870 But David H1732 abode H3427 in the wilderness, H4057 and he saw H7200 that Saul H7586 came H935 after H310 him into the wilderness. H4057
4 David H1732 therefore sent out H7971 spies, H7270 and understood H3045 that Saul H7586 was come H935 in very deed. H3559
5 And David H1732 arose, H6965 and came H935 to the place H4725 where Saul H7586 had pitched: H2583 and David H1732 beheld H7200 the place H4725 where Saul H7586 lay, H7901 and Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 the captain H8269 of his host: H6635 and Saul H7586 lay H7901 in the trench, H4570 and the people H5971 pitched H2583 round about H5439 him.
6 Then answered H6030 David H1732 and said H559 to Ahimelech H288 the Hittite, H2850 and to Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 brother H251 to Joab, H3097 saying, H559 Who will go down H3381 with me to Saul H7586 to the camp? H4264 And Abishai H52 said, H559 I will go down H3381 with thee.
7 So David H1732 and Abishai H52 came H935 to the people H5971 by night: H3915 and, behold, Saul H7586 lay H7901 sleeping H3463 within the trench, H4570 and his spear H2595 stuck H4600 in the ground H776 at his bolster: H4763 but Abner H74 and the people H5971 lay H7901 round about H5439 him.
8 Then said H559 Abishai H52 to David, H1732 God H430 hath delivered H5462 thine enemy H341 into thine hand H3027 this day: H3117 now therefore let me smite H5221 him, I pray thee, with the spear H2595 even to the earth H776 at once, H6471 H259 and I will not smite him the second time. H8138
9 And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 Destroy H7843 him not: for who can stretch forth H7971 his hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed, H4899 and be guiltless? H5352
10 David H1732 said H559 furthermore, As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 the LORD H3068 shall smite H5062 him; or his day H3117 shall come H935 to die; H4191 or he shall descend H3381 into battle, H4421 and perish. H5595
11 The LORD H3068 forbid H2486 that I should stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed: H4899 but, I pray thee, take H3947 thou now the spear H2595 that is at his bolster, H4763 and the cruse H6835 of water, H4325 and let us go. H3212
12 So David H1732 took H3947 the spear H2595 and the cruse H6835 of water H4325 from Saul's H7586 bolster; H7226 and they gat them away, H3212 and no man saw H7200 it, nor knew H3045 it, neither awaked: H6974 for they were all asleep; H3463 because a deep sleep H8639 from the LORD H3068 was fallen H5307 upon them.
13 Then David H1732 went over H5674 to the other side, H5676 and stood H5975 on the top H7218 of an hill H2022 afar off; H7350 a great H7227 space H4725 being between them:
14 And David H1732 cried H7121 to the people, H5971 and to Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 saying, H559 Answerest H6030 thou not, Abner? H74 Then Abner H74 answered H6030 and said, H559 Who art thou that criest H7121 to the king? H4428
15 And David H1732 said H559 to Abner, H74 Art not thou a valiant man? H376 and who is like to thee in Israel? H3478 wherefore then hast thou not kept H8104 thy lord H113 the king? H4428 for there came H935 one H259 of the people H5971 in to destroy H7843 the king H4428 thy lord. H113
16 This thing H1697 is not good H2896 that thou hast done. H6213 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 ye are worthy H1121 to die, H4194 because ye have not kept H8104 your master, H113 the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899 And now see H7200 where the king's H4428 spear H2595 is, and the cruse H6835 of water H4325 that was at his bolster. H4763
17 And Saul H7586 knew H5234 David's H1732 voice, H6963 and said, H559 Is this thy voice, H6963 my son H1121 David? H1732 And David H1732 said, H559 It is my voice, H6963 my lord, H113 O king. H4428
18 And he said, H559 Wherefore doth my lord H113 thus pursue H7291 after H310 his servant? H5650 for what have I done? H6213 or what evil H7451 is in mine hand? H3027
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord H113 the king H4428 hear H8085 the words H1697 of his servant. H5650 If the LORD H3068 have stirred thee up H5496 against me, let him accept H7306 an offering: H4503 but if they be the children H1121 of men, H120 cursed H779 be they before H6440 the LORD; H3068 for they have driven H1644 me out this day H3117 from abiding H5596 in the inheritance H5159 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Go, H3212 serve H5647 other H312 gods. H430
20 Now therefore, let not my blood H1818 fall H5307 to the earth H776 before the face H6440 of the LORD: H3068 for the king H4428 of Israel H3478 is come out H3318 to seek H1245 a H259 flea, H6550 as when one doth hunt H7291 a partridge H7124 in the mountains. H2022
21 Then said H559 Saul, H7586 I have sinned: H2398 return, H7725 my son H1121 David: H1732 for I will no more do thee harm, H7489 because my soul H5315 was precious H3365 in thine eyes H5869 this day: H3117 behold, I have played the fool, H5528 and have erred H7686 exceedingly. H7235 H3966
22 And David H1732 answered H6030 and said, H559 Behold the king's H4428 spear! H2595 and let one H259 of the young men H5288 come over H5674 and fetch H3947 it.
23 The LORD H3068 render H7725 to every man H376 his righteousness H6666 and his faithfulness: H530 for the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 thee into my hand H3027 to day, H3117 but I would H14 not stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899
24 And, behold, as thy life H5315 was much set by H1431 this day H3117 in mine eyes, H5869 so let my life H5315 be much set by H1431 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 and let him deliver H5337 me out of all tribulation. H6869
25 Then Saul H7586 said H559 to David, H1732 Blessed H1288 be thou, my son H1121 David: H1732 thou shalt both do H6213 great H6213 things, and also shalt still H3201 prevail. H3201 So David H1732 went H3212 on his way, H1870 and Saul H7586 returned H7725 to his place. H4725
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 26
Commentary on 1 Samuel 26 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 26
1Sa 26:1-4. Saul Comes to the Hill of Hachilah against David.
1, 2. the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah—This people seem to have thought it impossible for David to escape, and therefore recommended themselves to Saul, by giving him secret information (see on 1Sa 23:19). The knowledge of their treachery makes it appear strange that David should return to his former haunt in their neighborhood; but, perhaps he did it to be near Abigail's possessions, and under the impression that Saul had become mollified. But the king had relapsed into his old enmity. Though Gibeah, as its name imports, stood on an elevated position, and the desert of Ziph, which was in the hilly region of Judea, may have been higher than Gibeah, it was still necessary to descend in leaving the latter place; thence Saul (1Sa 26:2) "went down to the wilderness of Ziph."
4, 5. David … sent out spies … and David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched—Having obtained certain information of the locality, he seems, accompanied by his nephew (1Sa 26:6), to have hid himself, perhaps disguised, in a neighboring wood, or hill, on the skirts of the royal camp towards night, and waited to approach it under covert of the darkness.
1Sa 26:5-25. David Stays Abishai from Killing Saul, but Takes His Spear and Cruse.
5. Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him—Among the nomad people of the East, the encampments are usually made in a circular form. The circumference is lined by the baggage and the men, while the chief's station is in the center, whether he occupy a tent or not. His spear, stuck in the ground, indicates his position. Similar was the disposition of Saul's camp—in this hasty expedition he seems to have carried no tent, but to have slept on the ground. The whole troop was sunk in sleep around him.
8-12. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand—This midnight stratagem shows the activity and heroic enterprise of David's mind, and it was in unison with the style of warfare in ancient times.
let me smite him … even to the earth at once—The ferocious vehemence of the speaker is sufficiently apparent from his language, but David's magnanimity soared far above the notions of his followers. Though Saul's cruelty and perfidy and general want of right principle had sunk him to a low pitch of degradation, yet that was no reason for David's imitating him in doing wrong. Besides, he was the sovereign; David was a subject. Though God had rejected him from the kingdom, it was in every way the best and most dutiful course, instead of precipitating his fall by imbruing their hands in his blood and thereby contracting the guilt of a great crime, to wait the awards of that retributive providence which sooner or later would take him off by some sudden and mortal blow. He who, with impetuous haste was going to exterminate Nabal, meekly spared Saul. But Nabal refused to give a tribute to which justice and gratitude, no less than custom, entitled David. Saul was under the judicial infatuation of heaven. Thus David withheld the hand of Abishai; but, at the same time, he directed him to carry off some things which would show where they had been, and what they had done. Thus he obtained the best of victories over him, by heaping coals of fire on his head.
11. the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water—The Oriental spear had, and still has, a spike at the lower extremity, intended for the purpose of sticking the spear into the ground when the warrior is at rest. This common custom of Arab sheiks was also the practice of the Hebrew chiefs.
at his bolster—literally, "at his head"; perhaps, Saul as a sovereign had the distinguished luxury of a bolster carried for him. A "cruse of water" is usually, in warm climates, kept near a person's couch, as a drink in the night time is found very refreshing. Saul's cruse would probably be of superior materials, or more richly ornamented than common ones, and therefore by its size or form be easily distinguished.
13-20. Then David … stood on the top of an hill afar off … and cried to the people—(See on Jud 9:7). The extraordinary purity and elasticity of the air in Palestine enable words to be distinctly heard that are addressed by a speaker from the top of one hill to people on that of another, from which it is separated by a deep intervening ravine. Hostile parties can thus speak to each other, while completely beyond the reach of each other's attack. It results from the peculiar features of the country in many of the mountain districts.
15. David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man: … wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king?—The circumstance of David having penetrated to the center of the encampment, through the circular rows of the sleeping soldiers, constituted the point of this sarcastic taunt. This new evidence of David's moderation and magnanimous forbearance, together with his earnest and kindly expostulation, softened the obduracy of Saul's heart.
19. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me—By the evil spirit He had sent, or by any spiritual offenses by which we have mutually displeased Him.
let him accept an offering—that is, let us conjointly offer a sacrifice for appeasing His wrath against us.
if they be the children of men—The prudence, meekness, and address of David in ascribing the king's enmity to the instigations of some malicious traducers, and not to the jealousy of Saul himself, is worthy of notice.
saying, Go, serve other gods—This was the drift of their conduct. By driving him from the land and ordinances of the true worship, into foreign and heathen countries, they were exposing him to all the seductions of idolatry.
20. as when one doth hunt a partridge—People in the East, in hunting the partridge and other game birds, pursue them, till observing them becoming languid and fatigued after they have been put up two or three times, they rush upon the birds stealthily and knock them down with bludgeons [Shaw, Travels]. It was exactly in this manner that Saul was pursuing David. He drove him from time to time from his hiding-place, hoping to render him weary of his life, or obtain an opportunity of accomplishing his destruction.
25. So David went on his way—Notwithstanding this sudden relenting of Saul, David placed no confidence in his professions or promises, but wisely kept at a distance and awaited the course of Providence.