1 Samuel 26 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the part of the book that describes how David became king (chapters 16–31). It describes how David got a second opportunity to kill Saul when Saul once again pursued him into the wilderness. Once again David did not kill him, since Yahweh had anointed Saul to be the king. David proved to Saul once more that he could have killed him, and Saul admitted that he had been wrong to pursue David and promised that he would never harm him.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Why did David take Saul’s spear and water jug?

As in the case of David cutting off the edge of Saul’s robe 24:4, when David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head (26:11), he was able shortly afterwards to show these items as proof that he could have killed Saul but did not. But in this case as in that earlier case, this action may have had further symbolic significance. As 22:6 shows, the spear was an emblem of Saul’s royal office. The water jar may have been a similar emblem. In some ancient cultures, an important official accompanying the king would carry a beautiful and valuable jug containing water for the king to use to wash his hands before eating and for other personal purposes. The context suggests that it was the duty of Abner, as Saul’s general, to carry this jug with him and present it to Saul whenever he wanted to use the water in it. By taking these royal emblems, David may have been dramatizing how the kingship would pass from Saul to him. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain this possibility in a footnote.