David Again Spares Saul 1 ULT Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying,“{ Is} not David hiding himself on the hill of Hakilah, on the face of Jeshimon?” BSB BSB: Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
2 ULT And Saul arose 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. BSB BSB: So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
3 ULT And Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which{ is} on the face of Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness. BSB BSB: 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,
4 ULT For David sent spies, so he knew as a confirmed{ thing} Saul had come. BSB BSB: David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.
5 ULT And David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped there. And David saw the place where Saul lay there, and Abner, the son of Ner, the commander of his army. And Saul lay within the wagon- track, and the people were camped around him. BSB BSB: 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.
6 ULT 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.” BSB BSB: 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?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
7 ULT And David and Abishai came to the people{ at} night. And behold, Saul was lying asleep in the wagon- track, and his spear was pressed into the ground by his head. And Abner and the people were lying around him. BSB BSB: 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.
8 ULT 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 again to him.” BSB BSB: 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!”
9 ULT But David said to Abishai,“Do not destroy him. For who has stretched out his hand against the anointed one of Yahweh and been innocent?” BSB BSB: But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
10 ULT And David said,“The life of Yahweh— but rather Yahweh will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into a battle and be swept away— BSB BSB: 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.
11 ULT profane to me from Yahweh to stretch out my hand against the anointed one of Yahweh! And now, please take the spear that{ is} by his head and the jug of water, and let us go for ourselves.” BSB BSB: But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
12 ULT And David took the spear and the jug of water from the head of Saul, and they went for themselves. And none was seeing, and none was knowing, and none was awakening, for all of them were sleeping, because a deep sleep of Yahweh had fallen on them. BSB BSB: 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.
David Reproves Abner 13 ULT And David passed over{ to} the other side, and he stood on the head of a hill at a distance. Great{ was} the place between them. BSB BSB: Then David crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them.
14 ULT And David called 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} call to the king?” BSB BSB: And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied.
15 ULT And David said to Abner,“{ Are} you not a man? And who{ is} like you in Israel? So why did you not watch over your master the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king, your master. BSB BSB: 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?
16 ULT This thing that you have done{ is} not good. The life of Yahweh, that you{ are} sons of death who did not watch over your master, over the anointed one of Yahweh. And now, see, where{ are} the spear of the king and the jug of water that{ were} by his head?” BSB BSB: 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?”
17 ULT And Saul recognized the voice of David and said,“{ Is} this your voice, my son David?” And David said,“My voice, my lord the king.” BSB BSB: Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
18 ULT And he said,“Why{ is} this, my master pursuing after his servant? For what have I done, and what evil{ is} in my hand? BSB BSB: And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19 ULT And now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant. If Yahweh has incited you against me, may he smell an offering. But if sons of man, may they be cursed to the face of Yahweh. For they have driven me out today from joining myself with the inheritance of Yahweh, saying,‘Go, serve other gods.’ BSB BSB: 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.’
20 ULT And now, do not let my blood fall to the earth from before the face of Yahweh. For the king of Israel has come out to seek one flea, just as one pursues a partridge in the mountains.” BSB BSB: 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.”
Saul Acknowledges His Sin 21 ULT And Saul said,“I have sinned! Return, my son David! For I will not harm you again, for my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have strayed very greatly!” BSB BSB: 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!”
22 ULT And David answered and said,“Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men pass over and take it. BSB BSB: “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23 ULT And may Yahweh return to a man his righteousness and his faithfulness, for Yahweh gave you into{ my} hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the anointed one of Yahweh. BSB BSB: May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
24 ULT 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 deliver me from all distress.” BSB BSB: As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
25 ULT And Saul said to David,“Blessed be you, my son David! Both doing, you will do, and also being able, you will be able.” And David went to his way, and Saul returned to his place. BSB BSB: Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.