# 1 Samuel 26 š: David Spares Saul Again
[[š Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-1 Samuel Overview]] | [[1 Samuel 25]] | [[1 Samuel 27]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Spares Saulās Life Again
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, āIsnāt David hiding on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?āĀ
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by 3,000 select men of Israel, to look for David in the wilderness of Ziph.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Saul camped by the road on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon, but David was staying in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had come to the wilderness to findĀ him,Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā So David set out and went to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general in command of his army, were sleeping. Now Saul was lying in the entrenchment, and the army was camped all around him.Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joabās brother, āWho will go down with me to Saul in the camp?ā Abishai replied, āI will go down with you.ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā So David and Abishai approached the army at night and found Saul lying asleep in the entrenchment with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the army were lying all around him.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā Abishai said to David, āToday God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me drive the spearĀ right through him into the ground with one swift jab!Ā A second jab wonāt be necessary!ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā But David said to Abishai, āDonāt kill him! Who can extend his hand against theĀ Lordās chosen one and remain guiltless?āĀ
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā David went on to say, āAs theĀ LordĀ lives, theĀ LordĀ himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā But may theĀ LordĀ prevent me from extending my hand against theĀ Lordās chosen one! Now take the spear by Saulās head and the jug of water, and letās get out of here!ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saulās head, and they got out of there. No one saw them or was aware of their presence or woke up. All of them were asleep, for theĀ LordĀ had caused a deep sleep to fall on them.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them.
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, āWonāt you answer, Abner?ā Abner replied, āWho are you, that you have called to the king?ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā David said to Abner, āArenāt you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then havenāt you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā This failure on your part isnāt good!Ā As surely as theĀ LordĀ lives, you people who have not protected your lord, theĀ Lordās chosen one, are as good as dead!Ā Now look where the kingās spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā When Saul recognized Davidās voice, he said, āIs that your voice, my son David?ā David replied, āYes, itās my voice, my lord the king.ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā He went on to say, āWhy is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If theĀ LordĀ has incited you against me, may he take delight inĀ an offering. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before theĀ Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with theĀ Lordās inheritance, saying, āGo on, serve other gods!āĀ
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Now donāt let my blood fall to the ground away from theĀ Lordās presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridgeĀ in the hill country.ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā Saul replied, āI have sinned. Come back, my son David. I wonāt harm you anymore, for you treated my life with valueĀ this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!āĀ
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā David replied, āHere is the kingās spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it.
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty.Ā Even though today theĀ LordĀ delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against theĀ Lordās chosen one.Ā
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā In the same way that I valued your life this day,Ā may theĀ LordĀ value my lifeĀ and deliver me from all danger.āĀ
[[#Verse 25.]]Ā Saul replied to David, āMay you be rewarded,Ā my son David! You will without question be successful!āĀ So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Ziphites again told Saul where David was hiding (26:1; compare 23:19).
2. Abishai was the son of Zeruiah, David's sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), and brother of Joab.
3. Ahimelech the Hittite was among David's men (26:6), showing that foreigners also joined David.
4. Saul's spear was stuck in the ground near his head (26:7), marking the king's place in the camp.
5. The deep sleep the Lord sent (26:12) uses the same Hebrew word as the deep sleep God caused to fall on Adam (Genesis 2:21).
6. David took Saul's spear and water jug as proof he had been close enough to kill him (26:11-12).
7. David mocked Abner, Saul's commander and cousin, for failing to guard the king (26:15-16).
8. David compared himself to a single flea and to a partridge hunted in the mountains (26:20).
9. Saul confessed, "I have acted foolishly" (26:21).
10. This is the last recorded meeting between David and Saul (26:25).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Son of David who would not seize the kingdom by force but waited on His Father's timing. David refused to kill Saul (26:9-11), and Jesus refused to call on legions of angels to rescue Him (Matthew 26:52-54).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Abishai said God had handed Saul over (26:8). How do we tell the difference between God's opportunity and our own desires?
2. David trusted that the Lord would deal with Saul in His own time (26:10). Where do you need to trust God's timing?
3. Saul admitted, "I have acted foolishly" (26:21), but did not change. What is the difference between regret and true repentance?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 9: David asks who can lift a hand against the Lord's anointed and be innocent.
- š verse 10: The Lord Himself will strike Saul in His own time.
- š verse 23: The Lord rewards each person for righteousness and faithfulness.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[1 Samuel 24#Verse 01.|1 Samuel 24:1-22]] - David spares Saul in the cave.
- š [[Psalm 37#Verse 07.|Psalm 37:7-9]] - Be still before the Lord and wait patiently.
- š [[Romans 13#Verse 01.|Romans 13:1-2]] - Authorities are established by God.
- š [[Romans 12#Verse 19.|Romans 12:19]] - Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
- š [[Matthew 26#Verse 52.|Matthew 26:52-54]] - Jesus refuses to defend Himself with force.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[1 Samuel 26 - SOAP|How to Know if God is Orchestrating Something]]
## š Internal Notes