1 Samuel

Tells about Samuel, the last judge, and the beginning of Israel's monarchy with King Saul and young David.

Chapter 26

1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

*The people from Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and said, "Isn't David hiding on the Hill of Hachilah, near Jeshimon?"

2 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.

*Then Saul got up and went to the desert of Ziph with 3,000 elite soldiers to find David in that same desert.

3 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.

*Saul set up camp on Hachilah Hill, near Jeshimon, on the path. Meanwhile, David lived in the desert and noticed that Saul was chasing him there too.

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

*David sent spies, and found out that Saul had indeed arrived.

5 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 in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

*David got up and went to where Saul had set camp. He saw where Saul was lying, and Abner, Saul's army leader, was there too. Saul was in a ditch, and his soldiers were camping around him.

6 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.

*Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai, who was Joab's brother, "Who will go with me to Saul's camp?" Abishai replied, "I'll go with you."

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

*David and Abishai approached the people secretly at night. They found Saul sleeping near a ditch with his spear in the ground next to him. However, Abner and the others were camped around Saul.

8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

*Then Abishai told David, "God has given your enemy to you today. So please let me kill him with a spear right now, and I won't try to kill him again."

9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?

*David told Abishai, "Don't kill him. No one can raise a hand against someone the Lord has chosen without being guilty."

10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

*David added, "I swear by the Lord, the Lord will punish him, or his time to die will come, or he will go to fight and be killed."

11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

*Please don't let me reach out against the person chosen by the LORD; instead, grab the spear from where he rests and the container of water, and let's leave now.

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

*So David grabbed the spear and water jug from Saul's bedside table. They left without anyone noticing or waking up because everyone was deeply asleep due to God causing them to fall into a heavy sleep.

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

*Then David moved to the other side and stood atop a distant hill; there was a large distance between them.

14 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?

*And David called out to the people and to Abner, asking, "Don't you answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you to call out to the king?"

15 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 thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

*And David asked Abner, "Aren't you a brave man? Who is like you in Israel? So why didn't you protect your king? Because someone from the people came to harm your king."

16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

*This action isn't right. You deserve to die since you didn't protect the Lord's chosen one. Now look, the king's spear and the water bottle from his side are gone.

17 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.

*Saul recognized David's voice and asked, "Is that you, David?" David replied, "Yes, it's me, King!"

18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

*He asked, "Why does your majesty chase after your servant like this? What have I done wrong? Or what bad thing do I have in my hands?"

19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have 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 abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

*Now then, please let my king listen to my servant's words. If God has made you angry with me, then let Him accept a sacrifice, but if they are just people, may they be cursed before God. Because they have forced me to leave the land that God gave us, saying, "Go and worship other gods."

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

*So now, don't let my blood spill on the ground while the LORD watches; for the king of Israel has come out to chase a tiny bug, just like hunting a bird in the mountains.

21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

*Then Saul said, "I have done wrong. Please forgive me, my son David. I won't hurt you anymore because I know that your life is valuable to you. I was foolish and made a big mistake."

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

*David replied, "Look, the king's spear! Let a young man go get it."

23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.

*God gives each person what they deserve, whether good or bad. Today, God let me defeat you, but I didn't want to hurt someone chosen by God.

24 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 the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

*And, see, since you highly value my life today, I want the Lord to greatly value my life too and rescue me from all troubles.

25 Then Saul 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 Saul returned to his place.

*Then Saul told David, "You are blessed, my son David! You will accomplish amazing things and continue to succeed." After that, David left, and Saul went back to his own place.

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