Then the Ziphites came
to Saul
at Gibeah
, saying
, " aIs not David
hiding
on the hill
of Hachilah
, which is before
1Jeshimon
?"
So Saul arose
and went
down
to the wilderness
of Ziph
, having with him athree
thousand
chosen
men
of Israel
, to search
for David
in the wilderness
of Ziph
.
Saul camped
in the hill
of Hachilah
, which
is before
1Jeshimon
, abeside
the road
, and David
was staying
in the wilderness
. When bhe saw
that Saul
came
after
him into the wilderness
,
David sent
out spies
, and he knew
that Saul
was definitely
coming
.
David then arose
and came
to the place
where
Saul
had camped
. And David
saw
the place
where
Saul
lay
, and aAbner
the son
of Ner
, the commander
of his army
; and Saul
was lying
in the circle
of the camp
, and the people
were camped
around
him.
Then David said
to Ahimelech
athe Hittite
and to bAbishai
the son
of Zeruiah
, Joab's
brother
, saying
, "Who
cwill go
down
with me to Saul
in the camp
?" And Abishai
said
, "I will go
down
with you."
So David and Abishai
came
to the people
by night
, and behold
, Saul
lay
sleeping
inside the circle
of the camp
with his spear
stuck
in the ground
at his head
; and Abner
and the people
were lying
around
him.
Then Abishai said
to David
, "Today
God
has delivered
your enemy
into your hand
; now
therefore, please
let me strike
him with the spear
1to the ground
with one
stroke
, and I will not 2strike him the second
time
."
But David said
to Abishai
, "Do not destroy
him, for awho
can stretch
out his hand
against the LORD'S
anointed
and be without
guilt
?"
David also said
, "As the LORD
lives
, asurely
the LORD
will strike
him, or
bhis day
will come
that he dies
, or
che will go
down
into battle
and perish
.
" aThe LORD forbid
that I should stretch
out my hand
against the LORD'S
anointed
; but now
please
take
the spear
that is at his head
and the jug
of water
, and let us go
."
So David took
the spear
and the jug
of water
from beside Saul's
head
, and they went
away, but no
one
saw
or knew
it, nor
did any awake
, for they were all
asleep
, because
aa sound
sleep
from the LORD
had fallen
on them.
Then David crossed
over
to the other
side
and stood
on top
of the mountain
at a distance
with a large
area
between
them.
David called
to the people
and to Abner
the son
of Ner
, saying
, "Will you not answer
, Abner
?" Then Abner
replied
, "Who
are you who calls
to the king
?"
So David said
to Abner
, "Are you not a man
? And who
is like
you in Israel
? Why
then have you not guarded
your lord
the king
? For one
of the people
came
to destroy
the king
your lord
.
"This thing
that you have done
is not good
. As the LORD
lives
, all of you 1 amust
surely
die
, because
you did not guard
your lord
, the LORD'S
anointed
. And now
, see
where
the king's
spear
is and the jug
of water
that was at his head
."
Then Saul recognized
David's
voice
and said
, " aIs this
your voice
, my son
David
?" And David
said
, "It is my voice
, my lord
the king
."
He also said, " aWhy
then
is my lord
pursuing
his servant
? For what
have I done
? Or what
evil
is in my hand
?
"Now therefore, please
let my lord
the king
listen
to the words
of his servant
. If
athe LORD
has stirred
you up against me, blet Him 1accept
an offering
; but cif
it is 2men
, cursed
are they before
the LORD
, for dthey have driven
me out today
so
that I would have no
attachment
with the inheritance
of the LORD
, saying
, `Go
, serve
other
gods
.'
"Now then, do not let my blood
fall
to the ground
away
from the presence
of the LORD
; for the king
of Israel
has come
out to search
for aa single
flea
, just
as one hunts
a partridge
in the mountains
."
Then Saul said
, " aI have sinned
. Return
, my son
David
, for I will not harm
you again
because
my life
was precious
in your sight
this
day
. Behold
, I have played
the fool
and have committed
a serious
error
."
David replied
, "Behold
the spear
of the king
! Now let one
of the young
men
come
over
and take
it.
" aThe LORD will repay
each
man
for his righteousness
and his faithfulness
; for the LORD
delivered
you into my hand
today
, but bI refused
to stretch
out my hand
against the LORD'S
anointed
.
"Now behold, as your life
was ahighly
valued
in my sight
this
day
, so
may my life
be highly
valued
in the sight
of the LORD
, and may He bdeliver
me from all
distress
."
Then Saul said
to David
, " aBlessed
are you, my son
David
; you will both
accomplish
much
and surely
prevail
." So bDavid
went
on his way
, and Saul
returned
to his place
.