ULT 1SA Chapter 26

◄ 1SA 26 ► ║ ═ ©

26 And the Ziphites came to Saul at the Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself in the hill of the Hakilah, on the face of the Jeshimon?” 2 And Saul rose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him were 3,000 men, chosen ones of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped in the hill of the Hakilah, which is on the face of the Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness and he saw that Saul was coming after him to the wilderness. 4 And David sent spies and he knew that Saul had certainly come. 5 And David rose and came to the place there where Saul had camped. And David saw the place there where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. And Saul lay in the entrenchment, and the people were camped around him.

6 And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul, to the camp?” And Abishai said, “I! I will go down with you.” 7 And David and Abishai came to the people at night. And behold, Saul lie asleep in the entrenchment, and his spear was pressed into the ground at the place of his head. And Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 And Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. And now please let me strike him with the spear even into the earth one time. And I will not do it again to him.” 9 And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him. For who has stretched out his hand against the anointed one of Yahweh and been innocent?” 10 And David said, “As Yahweh is alive, surely Yahweh will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into the battle and be swept away. 11 Far be it for me from Yahweh to stretch out my hand against the anointed one of Yahweh. And now, please take the spear that is at the place of his head and the jug of water, and let us go for ourselves.” 12 And David took the spear and the jug of water from the place of the head of Saul, and they went for themselves. And there was no one who saw, and there was no one who knew, and there was no one who awoke, for all of them were sleeping, because a deep sleep of Yahweh had fallen on them.

13 And David passed over to the other side and stood on the head of the mountain from a distance. Great was the distance between them. 14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” And Abner answered and said, “Who are you who calls out to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? But why did you not watch over your master the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your master. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As Yahweh is alive, surely sons of death are you who did not watch over your master, over the anointed one of Yahweh. And now see, where is the spear of the king and the jar of water that was at the place of his head?”

17 And Saul recognized the voice of David and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my master the king.” 18 And he said, “Why is my master pursuing after his servant? For what have I done? And what evil is in my hand? 19 And now, please hear, my master the king, the words of his servant. If Yahweh has incited you against me, may he smell an offering; but if the sons of the man, cursed be them before the face of Yahweh. For they have today driven me out from joining oneself with the inheritance of Yahweh, saying, ‘Go serve other gods.’ 20 And now, do not let my blood fall to the earth from in front of the face of Yahweh. For the king of Israel has come out to seek one flea just as one pursues the partridge in the mountains.”

21 And Saul said, “I have sinned! Return, my son David! For I will not do evil to you again, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have gone very much astray!” 22 And David answered and said, “Behold, the spear of the king! And let one of the young men pass over and take it. 23 And may Yahweh return to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh gave you into a hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the anointed one of Yahweh. 24 And behold, just as your life was great in my eyes this day, so may my life be great in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he rescue me from all distress.” 25 And Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will certainly both do and also you will certainly be able.” And David went to his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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