Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 026
26:001
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth
not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
26:002
Then 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
26:003
And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul
came after him into the wilderness
26:004
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul
was come of a certainty
26:005
And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had
pitched; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner,
the captain of his host; and Saul lay within the barricade, and the people
pitched round about him
26:006
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and
to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying: 'Who will go down with
me to Saul to the camp?' And Abishai said: 'I will go down with thee.
26:007
So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and,
behold, Saul lay sleeping within the barricade, with his spear stuck in the
ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him
26:008
Then said Abishai to David: 'G-d hath delivered up thine
enemy into thy hand this day; now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with
the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.
26:009
And David said to Abishai: 'Destroy him not; for who can
put forth his hand against HaShem'S anointed, and be guiltless?
26:010
And David said: 'As HaShem liveth, nay, but HaShem shall
smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle, and be
swept away
26:011
HaShem forbid it me, that I should put forth my hand
against HaShem'S anointed; but now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his
head, and the cruse of water and let us go.
26:012
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's
head; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any
awake; for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from HaShem was fallen
upon them
26:013
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the
top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them
26:014
And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner,
saying: 'Answerest thou not, Abner?' Then Abner answered and said: 'Who art thou
that criest to the king?
26:015
And David said to Abner: 'Art not thou a valiant man? and
who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy
lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord
26:016
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As HaShem
liveth, ye deserve to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord,
HaShem'S anointed. And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of
water that was at his head.
26:017
And Saul knew David's voice, and said: 'Is this thy voice,
my son David?' And David said: 'It is my voice, my lord, O king.
26:018
And he said: 'Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his
servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand
26:019
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If it be HaShem that hath stirred thee up against me, let
Him accept an offering; but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before
HaShem; for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the
inheritance of HaShem, saying: Go, serve other gods
26:020
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away
from the presence of HaShem; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single
flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
26:021
Then said Saul: 'I have sinned; return, my son David; for
I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this
day; behold, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.
26:022
And David answered and said: 'Behold the king's spear! let
then one of the young men come over and fetch it
26:023
And HaShem will render to every man his righteousness and
his faithfulness; forasmuch as HaShem delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I
would not put forth my hand against HaShem'S anointed
26:024
And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of HaShem, and let Him deliver
me out of all tribulation.
26:025
Then Saul said to David: 'Blessed be thou, my son David;
thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail.' So David went his way,
and Saul returned to his place
Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 026
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