1 Samuel 26

1 Samuel 26:1

7. Saul Spared a Second Time (Chap. 26)26:1-4 Once again the Ziphites reported David’s whereabouts to Saul (cf. 1Sa_23:19). Saul promptly gathered a force five times larger than David’s meager band and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph. We are not told what happened to incite Saul anew. When the two men had last parted, they seemed somewhat reconciled (chap. 24). Maybe evil men had stirred up the king’s hatred afresh (see v. 19). 26:5-12 David spied out Saul’s camp, and in the evening he and his relative, Abishai, penetrated the camp and came to where Saul was sleeping. An unnatural slumber from the Lord made this possible. Abishai wanted to strike the king with a quick blow, but David forbade any such action because, although Saul was a wicked man, he was the LORD’s anointed. It was the Lord’s responsibility to deal with him. David took Saul’s spear and jug of water and left. 26:13-16 When David was safely outside the camp, he raised his voice and taunted Abner for his carelessness in guarding the king. Such negligence was worthy of death. The jug and spear which David had taken told of Saul’s second deliverance from death at his hand. 26:17-20 What still puzzled David was why King Saul pursued him so untiringly when he had proven that he meant him no harm. If the Lord had stirred . . . up Saul against David, then David could satisfy Him by presenting a sacrificial offering. But if . . . men had incited Saul’s hostility, then they should be cursed because they were driving David away from the only sanctuary where he could worship God. The expression “Go, serve other gods” (v. 19b) was what these evil men were saying by their actions, if not by their words. David asked that he might not die “away from the presence of the Lord,” i.e., in a foreign land (v. 20, NASB). Saul was hunting a flea as . . . one hunts a partridge in the mountains. 26:21-25 Saul apparently repented when he realized that David had spared his life again. He acknowledged that David was more righteous than he, for he sought David’s life without cause, whereas David spared his life, though he could have killed the king in self-defense. David made a final appeal to the LORD to take note of his righteousness. Then Saul responded to David with a blessing and a prophecy of future greatness for his “son David.” David went on his way, and Saul returned to his city.