1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2 Then
Saul 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.
4 David
therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5 And
David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the
place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and
Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then
answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of
Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?
And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So
David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping
within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner
and the people lay round about him.
8 Then
said Abishai to David, God hath 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.
9 And
David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand
against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David
said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite
him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The
LORD 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.
12 So
David took 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 a deep sleep from the LORD 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? for
there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16 This
thing is not
good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy
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.
17 And
Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And
David said, It is my
voice, my lord, O king.
18 And
he said, Wherefore 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 accept an offering: but if they be the
children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have
driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go,
serve other gods.
20 Now
therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for
the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a
partridge in the mountains.
21 Then
said Saul, I have sinned: return, 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 The
LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD
delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch
forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
24 And,
behold, as 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.
25 Then
Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do
great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on
his way, and Saul returned to his place.
