David Shames Saul Again
26 The people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said to him, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah ·opposite [overlooking; facing] ·Jeshimon [or the wasteland].”
2 So Saul went down to the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Ziph with three thousand ·chosen men [elite soldiers] of Israel to look for David ·there [L in the Desert/Wilderness of Ziph]. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah ·opposite [overlooking; facing] ·Jeshimon [or the wasteland], but David stayed in the ·desert [wilderness]. When he heard Saul had followed him [L into the desert/wilderness], 4 he sent out ·spies [scouts] and learned for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
5 Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping ·in [within] the ·middle [circle; ring] of the camp with all the army around him.
6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into Saul’s camp with me?”
Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”
7 So that night David and Abishai went ·into Saul’s camp [L amidst the army]. Saul was asleep ·in [within] the ·middle [circle; ring] of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the army were sleeping around Saul. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has ·handed [delivered] your enemy ·over to you [L into your hand]. Let me pin Saul to the ground with my spear. I’ll only have to do it once. I won’t need to ·hit [L strike] him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t ·kill [L destroy] Saul! ·No one [Who…?] can ·harm [raise a hand against] the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed] and still be ·innocent [without guilt]! 10 As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will ·punish Saul [strike him]. ·Maybe Saul will die naturally [L His day to die will come], or maybe he will go into battle and be killed. 11 But may the Lord ·keep me from [forbid my] ·harming [raising my hand against] his ·appointed king [anointed]! Take the spear and water jug that are near Saul’s head. Then let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them or knew about it or woke up, because ·the Lord had put them sound asleep [L a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them].
13 David crossed over to the other side of the hill and stood on top of the mountain far from Saul’s camp. They were a long way away from each other. 14 David ·shouted [called] to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer me, Abner?”
Abner answered, “Who is calling for the king? Who are you [L that calls on the king]?”
15 David said, “You’re ·the greatest man [L a man unlike any] in Israel. Isn’t that true? Why didn’t you ·guard [protect] your ·master [lord] the king? Someone came into your camp to kill your ·master [lord] the king! 16 ·You have not done well [L This thing you’ve done is not good]. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men ·should [must] die. You haven’t guarded your ·master [lord], the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed]. Look! Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17 Saul ·knew [recognized] David’s voice. He said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David answered, “Yes, it is [L my voice], my ·master [lord] and king.” 18 David also said, “Why are you ·chasing me [pursuing your servant], my ·master [lord]? What wrong have I done? What ·evil [crime] ·am I guilty of [L is in my hand]? 19 My ·master [lord] and king, listen to me. If the Lord ·made you angry with [L stirred you up/incited you against] me, let him accept an offering. But if people did it, may the Lord curse them! They have ·made me leave [driven me out today from] ·the land the Lord gave me [L my share in the Lord’s inheritance/heritage]. They have told me, ‘Go and ·serve [worship] other gods.’ 20 Now don’t let ·me die [L my blood fall to the ground so] far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a [L single] flea! You’re just hunting a ·bird [L partridge] in the mountains!”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Today you ·respected [valued; considered precious] my life, so I will not try to hurt you. I have been very ·stupid [wrong; mistaken] and foolish.”
22 David answered, “·Here is [T Behold] your spear [L O king]. Let one of your young men come here and get it. 23 The Lord ·rewards us for the things we do right [repays each one for his righteousness] and for our ·loyalty [faithfulness] to him. The Lord ·handed you over to me [L placed you in my hand] today, but I wouldn’t ·harm [raise a hand against] the Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed]. 24 As I ·respected [valued; considered precious] your life today, may the Lord also ·respect [value; consider precious] my life and ·save [rescue; deliver] me from all ·trouble [tribulation].”
25 Then Saul said to David, “·You are [May you be] blessed, my son David. You will do great things and ·succeed [surely prevail/triumph].”
So David went on his way, and Saul went back home.