1 Samuel Chapter 26 — David Spares Saul Again
David infiltrates King Saul's camp at night and chooses to spare his life once again, taking the king's spear as proof of his restraint.
1The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”
2Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.
5Then David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped around him.
6Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?”
7So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him.
8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.”
9David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
10David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him; or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle and perish.
11The 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 jar of water, and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain far away, a great space being between them;
14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Don’t you answer, Abner?”
15David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king.
16This thing isn’t good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?”
18He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before the LORD; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
20Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
22David answered, “Behold the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23The LORD will give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because the LORD delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
24Behold, as your life was respected today in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the LORD’s eyes, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.”
25Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You will both do mightily, and will surely prevail.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Samuel 26:9
“David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?””
This verse highlights David's core principle of respecting God's chosen leader despite personal danger.
1 Samuel 26:21
“Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.””
This captures Saul's momentary repentance and public acknowledgment of his unjust pursuit of David.
Chapter Summary
In 1 Samuel 26, the Ziphites reveal David's location to Saul, prompting the king to pursue him with 3,000 men. David and his nephew Abishai sneak into Saul's camp at night while the army is under a divinely induced deep sleep. Although Abishai offers to kill Saul, David refuses, stating he will not harm the Lord's anointed. Instead, David takes Saul's spear and water jar from beside his head. From a safe distance on a mountain, David calls out to Abner, Saul’s general, criticizing him for failing to protect the king. David shows Saul the spear and jar, proving he could have killed him but chose mercy. Saul admits his error, confesses he has 'played the fool,' and promises not to harm David further. They part ways, with Saul returning home and David continuing his flight while trusting God for his ultimate protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
David believed that because Saul was the king anointed by God, it was not his place to take Saul's life. He trusted that the Lord would deal with Saul in His own time through natural death or battle, rather than by David's hand.
David took King Saul’s spear and water jar, which were located right at the king's head while he slept. These items served as undeniable proof to Saul and his army that David had been close enough to kill the king but chose to spare him.
Abishai, the son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, accompanied David into the camp. Abishai urged David to let him kill Saul with a single spear strike, but David restrained him, insisting they only take the spear and water jar.
The text states that a 'deep sleep from the Lord' had fallen upon the entire camp. This divine intervention ensured that no one saw or heard David and Abishai as they entered and left the center of the encampment.
Study Note
The mention of the 'place of the wagons' in verse 5 refers to a circular barricade or rampart formed by the army's transport vehicles for defensive purposes.
Related Chapters
1 Samuel 24
This earlier chapter details the first time David spared Saul's life in a cave at En Gedi.
1 Samuel 31
This chapter records Saul's eventual death in battle, which David predicted would happen in God's timing.
2 Samuel 1
David mourns Saul's death and maintains his stance on the sanctity of the Lord's anointed.
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