I Samuel 26 · שמואל א

And the Zifim came to Sha᾽ul to Giv῾a, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Ḥakhila, which is before the Yeshimon?

Then Sha᾽ul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Zif, having three thousand chosen men of Yisra᾽el with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Zif.

And Sha᾽ul encamped in the hill of Ḥakhila, which is before the Yeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Sha᾽ul came after him into the wilderness.

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha᾽ul was come for a fact.

And David arose, and came to the place where Sha᾽ul had encamped: and David beheld the place where Sha᾽ul lay, together with Avner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Sha᾽ul lay within the barricade, and the people were encamped round about him.

Then answered David and said to Aĥimelekh the Ḥittite, and to Avishay the son of Żeruya, brother to Yo᾽av, saying, Who will go down with me to Sha᾽ul to the camp? And Avishay said, I will go down with thee.

So David and Avishay came to the people by night: and, behold, Sha᾽ul lay sleeping within the barricade and his spear stuck in the ground at his head: and Avner and the people lay round about him.

Then said Avishay to David, God has delivered thy enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me strike him through with the spear to the earth at one blow, and I will not need to strike him a second time.

And David said to Avishay, Destroy him not: for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?

And David said, As the Lord lives, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and be swept away.

The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.

So David took the spear and the jar of water from Sha᾽ul’s head; and they went away, and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the hill afar off; a great space being between them:

and David cried to the people, and to Avner the son of Ner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Avner? Then Avner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

And David said to Avner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Yisra᾽el? why then hast thou not guarded thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.

And Sha᾽ul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, O my lord, the king.

And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

Now therefore I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from being joined to the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Yisra᾽el is come out to seek a single flea, as when one hunts the partridge in the mountains.

Then said Sha᾽ul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thy eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

And the Lord requite to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

And, behold, as thy life was much esteemed this day in my eyes, so let my life be much esteemed in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

Then Sha᾽ul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Sha᾽ul returned to his place.