David Again Spares Saul
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 1Sa 23:19Psa 54:1-71Sa 26:3Jos 15:24Jos 15:55 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 1Sa 24:21Sa 13:21Sa 23:23-251Sa 24:17Psa 140:4-9Psa 38:12
Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there, 1Sa 23:191Sa 26:1 David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived. Mat 10:16Jos 2:1
Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him. 1Sa 17:551Sa 14:50-511Sa 17:201Ch 9:391Sa 9:12Sa 2:8-122Sa 3:272Sa 3:33-38 And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” Jdg 7:10-112Sa 2:181Ch 2:15-161Sa 14:6-72Sa 11:212Sa 11:242Sa 11:62Sa 12:9
“I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. 1Th 5:2-3
Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!” 1Sa 24:41Sa 26:231Sa 23:141Sa 24:18-19Deu 32:30Jdg 1:4Jos 21:44Gal 3:22-23
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 2Sa 1:142Sa 1:16Psa 105:151Sa 24:6-7 David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. Deu 31:14Gen 47:29Rom 12:191Sa 25:381Sa 31:6Psa 37:131Sa 25:26Deu 32:35 But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.” 1Sa 24:61Sa 24:122Sa 1:142Sa 1:16
So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. Gen 2:21Gen 15:12Isa 29:101Sa 24:41Sa 26:7Est 6:1
David Reproves Abner
Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them. 1Sa 24:8Jdg 9:7 And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?”
“Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.
So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?” 1Sa 20:311Sa 26:111Sa 26:92Sa 12:52Sa 19:28Eph 2:3Psa 102:20Psa 79:11
Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” 1Sa 24:161Sa 24:8
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? 1Sa 24:91Sa 24:11-14Jhn 10:32Jhn 18:23Jhn 8:46Psa 35:7Psa 69:4Psa 7:3-5 Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 2Sa 14:162Sa 16:112Sa 20:191Ch 21:11Sa 18:10Gal 1:8-9Gen 8:21Jos 22:25-27 So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” 1Sa 24:141Sa 2:91Sa 25:29Mat 26:47Mat 26:55
Saul Acknowledges His Sin
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!” 1Sa 15:241Sa 24:17Exo 9:271Sa 15:30Mat 27:41Sa 18:301Sa 26:241Sa 27:4
“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it. May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 1Sa 24:6-7Psa 62:12Psa 18:20-26Psa 7:8-91Ki 8:321Sa 26:111Sa 26:9Neh 13:14 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.” Psa 54:72Co 1:9-10Mat 5:7Psa 34:17-182Th 3:2Act 14:22Gen 48:16Mat 7:2
Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” Num 24:9-101Sa 24:19Isa 54:17Pro 26:25Rom 8:37Gen 32:281Sa 24:22Hos 12:4
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.