The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 26
Chapter XXVI · Vol. II, pp. 668–669
1 Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, cometh to Hachilah against David. 5 David coming into the trench stayeth Abishai from killing Saul, but taketh his spear and cruse. 13 David reproveth Abner's negligence, 18 and exhorteth Saul. 21 Saul acknowledgeth his sin, and returneth home.
1 And the aZiphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then bSaul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way: but David abode in the wilderness; and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.1
1 The term 'wilderness,' when applied to districts in Palestine, means an uncultivated district.—I.
5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, dand Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the etrench,2 and the people pitched round about him.
d ch.14.50; 17.55.
e Or, midst of his carriages, ch.17.20.
2 'And Saul lay in the circle,' i.e. in the circle formed by the men who were with him. He was in the centre, and his men lay round him. To pass through the surrounding host, and penetrate to the spot where Saul slept, was therefore a work of no ordinary daring.—P.
6 Then answered David, and said to fAhimelech the Hittite, and to gAbishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go hdown with me to Saul to the camp?3 And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
g 1 Ch.2.16. 2 Sa.2.18; 23.18; 16.9; 10.10.
h Ju.7.9-11. ch.14.6.
3 This proposal of David, for two to make their way through Saul's army, indicates a very low opinion of his military arrangements—an opinion verified by the event. Saul is found sleeping—the similitude of all wicked men, who, eagerly pursuing some evil course to the injury of others, cease to watch for their own souls.—C.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay isleeping within the trench,4 and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
i 1 Th.5.2,3,7. ver.12.
4 'Within the circle.'—P.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God khath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
k Heb. shut up, ch.24.4, with 2 Sa.23.18.
9 And David said to Abishai, lDestroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?5
A.M. 2947. B.C. 1057.
l ch.24.6,7. 2 Sa.1.14,16.
5 Had David been ambitious of the crown, that evil passion would have blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime proposed. He knew he was to be Saul's successor, yet he waits God's time, and, through grace, preserves his innocence.—C.
10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD mshall smite him;6 or nhis day shall come to die; or ohe shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The pLORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.7
p ch.24.6,7. 2 Sa.1.14,16.
7 In the East, during the summer months, nearly every man on going to sleep, whether in his house or on a journey, has a vessel of water placed within reach.—P.
12 So David qtook the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because ra deep sleep from the LORD8 was fallen upon them.
13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? sfor there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
s ver.8.
16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are tworthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
t Heb. the sons of death, ver.9,11; ch.24.6. 2 Sa.1.14.
17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Isu this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
u ch.24.16. Pr.26.25.
18 And he said, xWherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him yaccept9 an offering:1 but if they be the children of men, zcursed be they before the LORD;2 for theya have driven me out this day from abiding3 in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.4
y 2 Sa.16.11; 24.1.
9 Heb. smell, Le.iv.-vi. Ge.8.21.
1 Since the holy God would accept a sin-offering as an acknowledgment of guilt, and of faith in the great atonement which Christ was to make for sin, how much more therefore should Saul, a sinful fellow-creature, be pacified towards his unoffending servant.—C.
z Ga.5.12. Pr.6.16,19.
2 David supposes two conceivable causes of Saul's hostility: (1) That God had stirred up Saul against him, i.e. that he had left unchecked the evil passions in Saul's own heart. In this case the anger of God ought to be appeased by a mincha, or bloodless offering, which is an emblem of a life devoted to God's service. (2) That men had stirred up Saul to pursue him, and in this case David pronounces upon them a curse.—P.
a Ps.42.1,2; 84.2; 120.5. Ro.14.15. Jos.22.25,27.
3 Heb. cleaving.
4 The law, De.xiii., condemned all enticers to idolatry—how much more must it condemn those who, by their false insinuations or charges, had forced David away from the tabernacle and the altar, and compelled him to live among the heathen!—C.
20 Now therefore blet not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD; for the king of Israel is come out to cseek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.5
b ch.2.9; 25.29.
A.M. 2947. B.C. 1057.
c ch.24.14.
5 The Arabs still continue to run down the partridge with dogs.—C.—The Hebrew name of the partridge is kore, i.e. caller, from its peculiar note. Shaw says of the greater or red-legged partridge, 'The Arabs have another, though a more laborious method of catching these birds, for, observing that they become languid and fatigued after they have been hastily put up twice or thrice, they immediately run in upon them and knock them down with their zerwattys or bludgeons.' 'Precisely in this manner,' says Harris, 'Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, putting him up incessantly, in hopes that at length his strength and resources would fail, and he would become an easy prey to his pursuers.'—I.
21 Then dsaid Saul, I have sinned: return,6 my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 Thee LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to-day, but fI would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.
e Ne.13.14. Is.3.10,11. Ps.7.8; 18.20. Ro.2.6-10.
f ch.24.6,7; ver.9,11.
24 And, behold, gas thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
g Ps.18.25. Ac.14.22. 2 Co.1.10. 1 Co.10.13. Is.46.3,4; 63.9; 41.10,13-16.
Notes
Reflections.—One sin usually involves men in another, lest they should suffer for the former; and none are more restless in promoting mischief than treacherous neighbours and unfaithful kinsmen. Unsanctified hearts soon lose the impression made by convictions of sin; and a little instigation will revive the old grudge where the reconciliation is not sincere: but God can easily disarm the mighty, and leave them a prey to the feeble. It is dangerous for a wicked heart to meet with an engaging temptation. But what an honour is it to resist strong temptations, and to neglect repeated opportunities of avenging ourselves! And it highly becomes the Christian thus to commit his cause into the hand of God, and to wait his time and way of advancing him to honour. But what malicious enemies are they who tempt us to apostatize from God by driving us from his worship and people! how severe a reckoning awaits those who shed innocent blood. And woe to the men against whom the people of God bring their just complaints! sin is the greatest folly, and will appear so at last to the most hardened sinner, even though their convictions should never have any saving issue. God's dispensations do all concur to prove him a righteous judge. They who show mercy may hope to find mercy. And God will make his enemies to bow at the feet of his persecuted saints, and know that he hath loved them, and will promote them to honour.