NASB — 1 Samuel 26 — KJV

David Again Spares Saul

1 Then the Ziphites° came° to Saul° at Gibeah°, saying°, “aIs not David° hiding° on the hill° of Hachilah°, [which is] before°° IJeshimon°?” 2 So Saul° arose° and went° down° to the wilderness° of Ziph°, having with him athree° thousand° chosen° men° of Israel°, to search° for David° in the wilderness° of Ziph°. 3 Saul° camped° in the hill° of Hachilah°, which° is before°° IJeshimon°, abeside° the road°, and David° was staying° in the wilderness°. When bhe saw° that Saul° came° after° him into the wilderness°, 4 David° sent° out spies°, and he knew° that Saul° was definitely° coming°. 5 David° then arose° and came° to the place° where°° Saul° had camped°. And David° saw° the place° where°° Saul° lay°, and aAbner° the son° of Ner°, the commander° of his army°; and Saul° was lying° in the circle° of the camp°, and the people° were camped° around° him.

[1] IOr the desert a1S 23:19; Ps 54: title
[2] a1S 13:2; 24:2
[3] IOr the desert a1S 24:3 b1S 23:15
[5] a1S 14:50, 51; 17:55

6 ¶ Then David° said° to Ahimelech° athe Hittite° and to bAbishai° the son° of Zeruiah°, Joab’s° brother°, saying°, “Who° cwill go° down° with me to Saul° in the camp°?” And Abishai° said°, “I will go° down° with you.” 7 So David° and Abishai° came° to the people° by night°, and behold°, Saul° lay° sleeping° inside the circle° of the camp° with his spear° stuck° in the ground° at his head°; and Abner° and the people° were lying° around° him. 8 Then Abishai° said° to David°, “Today° God° has delivered° your enemy° into your hand°; now° therefore, please° let me strike° him with the spear° Ito the ground° with one° stroke°, and I will not IIstrike him the second° time°.” 9 But David° said° to Abishai°, “Do not destroy° him, for awho° can stretch° out his hand° against the LORDS° anointed° and be without° guilt°?” 10 David° also said°, “As the LORD° lives°, asurely°° the LORD° will strike° him, or° bhis day° will come° that he dies°, or° che will go° down° into battle° and perish°. 11 aThe LORD° forbid° that I should stretch° out my hand° against the LORDS° anointed°; but now° please° take° the spear° that is at his head° and the jug° of water°, and let us go°.” 12 So David° took° the spear° and the jug° of water° from [beside] Saul’s° head°, and they went° away, but no° one° saw° or knew° [it], nor° did any awake°, for they were all° asleep°, because° aa sound° sleep° from the LORD° had fallen° on them.

[6] aGn 23:3; 26:34; Jsh 3:10; 1K 10:29; 2K 7:6 b1Ch 2:16 cJg 7:10, 11
[8] ILit even into IILit repeat with respect to him
[9] a1S 24:6, 7; 2S 1:14, 16
[10] aDt 32:35; 1S 25:26, 38; Ro 12:19; He 10:30 bGn 47:29; Dt 31:14; Ps 37:13 c1S 31:6
[11] a1S 24:6, 12; Ro 12:17, 19; 1P 3:9
[12] aGn 2:21; 15:12; Is 29:10

13 ¶ Then David° crossed° over° to the other° side° and stood° on top° of the mountain° at a distance° [with] a large° area° between° them. 14 David° called° to the people° and to Abner° the son° of Ner°, saying°, “Will you not answer°, Abner°?” Then Abner° replied°, “Who° are you who calls° to the king°?” 15 So David° said° to Abner°, “Are you not a man°? And who° is like° you in Israel°? Why° then have you not guarded° your lord° the king°? For one° of the people° came° to destroy° the king° your lord°. 16 This° thing° that you have done° is not good°. As the LORD° lives°, [all] of you Iamust° surely° die°, because° you did not guard° your lord°, the LORDS° anointed°. And now°, see° where° the king’s° spear° is and the jug° of water° that was at his head°.”

[16] ILit are surely sons of death a1S 20:31

17 ¶ Then Saul° recognized° David’s° voice° and said°, “aIs this° your voice°, my son° David°?” And David° said°, “It is my voice°, my lord° the king°.” 18 He also said°, “aWhy° then° is my lord° pursuing° his servant°? For what° have I done°? Or what° evil° is in my hand°? 19 Now° therefore, please° let my lord° the king° listen° to the words° of his servant°. If° athe LORD° has stirred° you up against me, blet Him Iaccept° an offering°; but cif° it is IImen°°, cursed° are they before° the LORD°, for dthey have driven° me out today° so° that I would have no° attachment° with the inheritance° of the LORD°, saying°, ‘Go°, serve° other° gods°.’ 20 Now° then, do not let my blood° fall° to the ground° away° from the presence° of the LORD°; for the king° of Israel° has come° out to search° for aa single° flea°, just° as one hunts° a partridge° in the mountains°.”

[17] a1S 24:16
[18] a1S 24:9, 11-14
[19] ILit smell IILit sons of men a2S 16:11 bGn 8:21 c1S 24:9 dJsh 22:25-27
[20] a1S 24:14

21 ¶ Then Saul° said°, “aI have sinned°. Return°, my son° David°, for I will not harm° you again° because°° my life° was precious° in your sight° this° day°. Behold°, I have played° the fool° and have committed° a serious°° error°.” 22 David° replied°, “Behold° the spear° of the king°! Now let one° of the young° men° come° over° and take° it. 23 aThe LORD° will repay° each° man° [for] his righteousness° and his faithfulness°; for the LORD° delivered° you into [my] hand° today°, but bI refused°° to stretch° out my hand° against the LORDS° anointed°. 24 Now behold°, as your life° was ahighly° valued° in my sight° this° day°, so° may my life° be highly° valued° in the sight° of the LORD°, and may He bdeliver° me from all° distress°.” 25 Then Saul° said° to David°, “aBlessed° are you, my son° David°; you will both° accomplish° much° and surely° prevail°.” So bDavid° went° on his way°, and Saul° returned° to his place°.

[21] aEx 9:27; 1S 15:24, 30; 24:17
[23] a1S 24:19; Ps 7:8; 18:20; 62:12 b1S 24:12
[24] a1S 18:30 bPs 54:7
[25] a1S 24:19 b1S 24:22


New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries
Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, cometh to Hachilah against David.

1 ¶ And the Ziphitesº cameºª unto² Saulº to Gibeah,º saying,ºª Doth not² Davidº hide¹ª himself² in the hillº of Hachilah,º [which is] beforeº² Jeshimon?º 2 Then Saulº arose,ºª and went downºª to² the wildernessº of Ziph,º having threeº thousandº chosenºª menº of Israelº with² him, to seekºª² Davidº in the wildernessº of Ziph.º 3 And Saulº pitchedºª in the hillº of Hachilah,º which² [is] beforeº² Jeshimon,º by² the way.º But Davidº abodeºª in the wilderness,º and he sawºª that² Saulº cameºª afterº him into the wilderness.º 4 Davidº therefore sent outºª spies,ºª and understoodºª that² Saulº was come¹ª in²² very deed.ºª

[1] Jsh 15:24, 55; 1S 23:19; 26:3; Ps 54:1.
[2] 1S 23:23; 24:2, 17; Ps 38:12; 140:4.
[3] 1S 23:19; 26:1.
[4] Jsh 2:1; Mt 10:16.

David, coming into the trench, stayeth Abishai from killing Saul, but taketh his spear and cruse.

5 ¶ And Davidº arose,ºª and cameºª to² the placeº where²² Saulº had pitched:ºª and Davidº beheldºª² the placeº where²² Saulº lay,ºª and Abnerº the sonº of Ner,º the captainº of his host:º and Saulº layºª in the trench,º and the peopleº pitchedºª round aboutº him. 6 Then answeredºª Davidº and saidºª to² Ahimelechº the Hittite,º and to² Abishaiº the sonº of Zeruiah,º brotherº to Joab,º saying,ºª Who² will go downºª with² me to² Saulº to² the camp?º And Abishaiº said,ºª I² will go downºª with² thee. 7 So Davidº and Abishaiº cameºª to² the peopleº by night:º and, behold,² Saulº layºª sleepingº within the trench,º and his spearº stuckºª in the groundº at his bolster:º but Abnerº and the peopleº layºª round aboutº him. 8 Then saidºª Abishaiº to² David,º Godº hath deliveredºª² thine enemyºª into thine handº this day:º now² therefore let me smiteºª him, I pray thee,² with the spearº even to the earthº at once,ºº and I will not² [smite] him the second time.ºª 9 And Davidº saidºª to² Abishai,º Destroyºª him not:² for² who² can stretch forthºª his handº against the LORD'Sº anointed,º and be guiltless?ºª 10 Davidº saidºª furthermore,²² [As] the LORDº liveth,º the LORDº shall smiteºª him; or² his dayº shall comeºª to die;ºª or² he shall descendºª into battle,º and perish.ºª 11 The LORDº² forbidº that I should stretch forthºª² mine handº against the LORD'Sº anointed:º but, I pray thee,² takeºª thou now²² the spearº that² [is] at his bolster,º and the cruseº of water,º and let us go.¹ª² 12 So Davidº tookºª² the spearº and the cruseº of waterº from Saul'sº bolster;¹² and they gat them away,¹ª² and no² man sawºª [it], nor² knewºª [it], neither² awaked:ºª for² they [were] all² asleep;º because² a deep sleepº from the LORDº was fallenºª upon² them.

[5] 1S 9:1; 14:50; 17:20, 55; 2S 2:8; 3:7, 27, 33; 1Ch 9:39.
[6] Gn 10:15; 15:20; Jg 7:10; 1S 14:6; 2S 2:18; 11:6, 21, 24; 12:9; 16:9; 18:5; 23:18, 39; 1Ch 2:15, 16.
[7] 1Th 5:2.
[8] Dt 32:30; Jsh 21:44; Jg 1:4; 1S 23:14; 24:4, 18; 26:23; Ps 31:8; Na 1:9; Ro 11:32; Ga 3:22.
[9] 1S 24:6; 2S 1:14, 16; Ps 105:15.
[10] Gn 47:29; Dt 31:14; 32:35; 1S 24:15; 25:26, 38; 31:6; Jb 7:1; 14:5, 14; Ps 37:10, 13; 94:1, 23; Ec 3:2; Lk 18:7; Ro 12:19; He 9:27; Rv 18:8.
[11] 1S 24:6, 12; 2S 1:14, 16.
[12] Gn 2:21; 15:12; 1S 24:4; 26:7; Es 6:1; Is 29:10.

David reproveth Abner,

13 ¶ Then Davidº went overºª to the other side,º and stoodºª on² the topº of an hillº afar off;º² a greatº spaceº [being] between² them: 14 And Davidº criedºª to² the people,º and to² Abnerº the sonº of Ner,º saying,ºª Answerestºª thou not,² Abner?º Then Abnerº answeredºª and said,ºª Who² [art] thou² [that] criestºª to² the king?º 15 And Davidº saidºª to² Abner,º [Art] not² thou² a [valiant] man?º and who² [is] like to thee² in Israel?º wherefore² then hast thou not² keptºª² thy lordº the king?º for² there cameºª oneº of the peopleº in to destroyºª² the kingº thy lord.º 16 This² thingº [is] not² goodº that² thou hast done.ºª [As] the LORDº liveth,º ye² [are] worthyº to die,º because² ye have not² keptºª² your master,º the LORD'Sº anointed.º And now² seeºª where² the king'sº spearº [is], and the cruseº of waterº that² [was] at his bolster.º 17 And Saulº knewºª² David'sº voice,º and said,ºª [Is] this² thy voice,º my sonº David?º And Davidº said,ºª [It is] my voice,º my lord,º O king.º

[13] Jg 9:7; 1S 24:8.
[15] 1S 26:8.
[16] 1S 20:31; 24:6; 26:9, 11; 2S 12:5; 19:28; Ps 79:11; 102:20; Ep 2:3.
[17] 1S 24:8, 16.

and exhorteth Saul.

18 And he said,ºª Wherefore² doth my lordº thus² pursueºª afterº his servant?º for² what² have I done?ºª or what² evilº [is] in mine hand?º 19 Now² therefore, I pray thee,² let my lordº the kingº hearºª² the wordsº of his servant.º If² the LORDº have stirred thee upºª against me, let him acceptºª an offering:º but if² [they be] the childrenº of men,º cursedºª [be] they² beforeº the LORD;º for² they have driven¹ª me out² this dayº from abidingºª² in the inheritanceº of the LORD,º saying,ºª Go,¹ª² serveºª otherº gods.º 20 Now² therefore, let not² my bloodº fallºª to the earthº before²² the faceº of the LORD:º for² the kingº of Israelº is come outºª to seekºª² a¹ flea,º as when² one² doth huntºª a partridgeº in the mountains.º

[18] 1S 17:29; 24:9, 11; Ps 7:3; 35:7; 69:4; Jn 8:46; 10:32; 18:23.
[19] Gn 8:21; 44:18; Lv 26:31; Dt 4:27; Jsh 22:25; 1S 16:14; 18:10; 25:24; 2S 14:16; 16:11; 20:19; 24:1; 1K 22:22; 1Ch 21:1; Ps 42:1; 119:1; 120:5; Pv 6:16; 30:10; Is 60:5; Ro 14:15; Ga 1:8; 5:12; 2Ti 4:14.
[20] 1S 2:9; 24:14; 25:29; Mt 26:47, 55.

Saul acknowledgeth his sin.

21 ¶ Then saidºª Saul,º I have sinned:ºª return,ºª my sonº David:º for² I will no² more² do thee harm,ºª because²² my soulº was preciousºª in thine eyesº this² day:º behold,² I have played the fool,ºª and have erredºª exceedingly.ººª 22 And Davidº answeredºª and said,ºª Behold² the king'sº spear!º and let oneº of the young menº² come overºª and fetchºª it. 23 The LORDº renderºª to every manº² his righteousnessº and his faithfulness:º for² the LORDº deliveredºª thee into [my] handº to day,º but I wouldºª not² stretch forthºª mine handº against the LORD'Sº anointed.º 24 And, behold,² as² thy lifeº was much set² by¹ª this² dayº in mine eyes,º so² let my lifeº be much set² by¹ª in the eyesº of the LORD,º and let him deliverºª me out of all²² tribulation.º 25 Then Saulº saidºª to² David,º Blessedºª [be] thou,² my sonº David:º thou shalt both² do¹ª greatºª [things], and also² shalt still¹ª prevail.ºª So Davidº went¹ª² on his way,º and Saulº returnedºª to his place.º

[21] Ex 9:27; Nu 22:34; 1S 15:24, 30; 18:30; 24:17; 26:24; 27:4; Ps 49:8; 116:15; Mt 27:4.
[23] 1S 24:6; 26:9, 11; 1K 8:32; Ne 13:14; Ps 7:8; 18:20.
[24] Gn 48:16; Ps 18:1, 25, 48; 34:17; 144:2; Mt 5:7; 7:2; Ac 14:22; 2Co 1:9; 2Th 3:2; Rv 7:14.
[25] Gn 32:28; Nu 24:9; 1S 24:19, 22; Pv 26:25; Is 54:17; Ho 12:4; Ro 8:35, 37.


KJV 1769 King James Bible Authorized Version (Student's Edition)
©2011 by First Gospel Publications, Zion, Ill. All rights reserved.
For downloads and more information please visit www.FirstGospel.com.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
with Hebrew-Chaldee and Greek Dictionaries
Featuring the qBible.com Living Strong's Lexical Map
©2003 by The WWW Chat Bible Compages. All rights reserved.
For how to use color-coding please view [www.ChatBible.com/key.asp].

1 Samuel 26 Top of NASB New American Standard Bible KJV King James Version Red-Letter Strong's Concordance Numbers Cross References & Footnotes


 ChatBible.com  |  Lexicon & Concordance  |  1611Bible.com 
 Download  |  Contact  |  About  | Become a fan.