1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to look for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon, beside the road. David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him there. 4 David sent out spies and learned for certain that Saul had come. 5 Then David got up and came to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying. Saul was lying in the middle of the camp, with the troops camped around him. 6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went to the troops at night. Saul was lying asleep in the middle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him.

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now let me pin him to the ground with the spear in one stroke. I will not need a second.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not kill him, for who can raise his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”

10 David added, “As the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should raise my hand against the LORD’s anointed! Now take the spear by his head and the water jar, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the water jar from beside Saul’s head, and they went away. No one saw, no one knew and no one woke up. They were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. 13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain far away, with a great distance between them. 14 David called to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner answered, “Who are you, calling to the king?”

15 David said to Abner, “Are you not a brave man? Who is like you in Israel? Why have you not guarded your lord the king? Someone came in to kill your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you all deserve to die, because you have not guarded your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look! Where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were beside his head?” 17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David answered, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? 19 Now please let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed before the LORD, for today they have driven me out from sharing in the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the LORD’s presence. The king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.” 21 Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son, for I will not harm you again, because my life was precious in your eyes today. I have acted foolishly and have gone very far astray.” 22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23 May the LORD repay each man for his righteousness and faithfulness. Today the LORD gave you into my hand, but I would not raise my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24 Just as your life was precious in my eyes today, so may my life be precious in the LORD’s eyes, and may he deliver me from every distress.”

25 Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, David my son! You will surely accomplish much and surely prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.