1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “A1 Sam 23:19; Ps 54: titleIs not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before 1Or the desertJeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him A1 Sam 13:2; 24:2three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before 1Or the desertJeshimon, A1 Sam 24:3beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When B1 Sam 23:15he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and A1 Sam 14:50, 51; 17:55Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech AGen 23:3; 26:34; Josh 3:10; 1 Kin 10:29; 2 Kin 7:6the Hittite and to B1 Chr 2:16Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who CJudg 7:10, 11will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear 1Lit even intoto the ground with one stroke, and I will not 2Lit repeat with respect to himstrike him the second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for A1 Sam 24:6, 7; 2 Sam 1:14, 16who can stretch out his hand against the Loʀᴅ’s anointed and be without guilt?” 10 David also said, “As the Loʀᴅ lives, ADeut 32:35; 1 Sam 25:26, 38; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30surely the Loʀᴅ will strike him, or BGen 47:29; Deut 31:14; Ps 37:13his day will come that he dies, or C1 Sam 31:6he will go down into battle and perish. 11  “A1 Sam 24:6, 12; Rom 12:17, 19; 1 Pet 3:9The Loʀᴅ forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Loʀᴅ’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because AGen 2:21; 15:12; Is 29:10a sound sleep from the Loʀᴅ had fallen on them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord. 16  “This thing that you have done is not good. As the Loʀᴅ lives, all of you 1Lit are surely sons of deathA1 Sam 20:31must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the Loʀᴅ’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”

17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “A1 Sam 24:16Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “A1 Sam 24:9, 11-14Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19  “Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If A2 Sam 16:11the Loʀᴅ has stirred you up against me, BGen 8:21let Him 1Lit smellaccept an offering; but C1 Sam 24:9if it is 2Lit sons of menmen, cursed are they before the Loʀᴅ, for DJosh 22:25-27they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the Loʀᴅ, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20  “Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Loʀᴅ; for the king of Israel has come out to search for A1 Sam 24:14a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “AEx 9:27; 1 Sam 15:24, 30; 24:17I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.” 22 David replied, “Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it. 23  “A1 Sam 24:19; Ps 7:8; 18:20; 62:12The Loʀᴅ will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Loʀᴅ delivered you into my hand today, but B1 Sam 24:12I refused to stretch out my hand against the Loʀᴅ’s anointed. 24  “Now behold, as your life was A1 Sam 18:30highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Loʀᴅ, and may He BPs 54:7deliver me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “A1 Sam 24:19Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So B1 Sam 24:22David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.