1-3 Saul, by the discovery of the ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David 4-12 David coming into the trench stays Abishai from killing Saul, but takes his spear and cruse 13-16 David reproves Abner 17-20 and exhorts Saul 21-25 Saul acknowledges his sin

Ziphites Jos 15:24,55

Doth not 1Sa 26:3 23:19 Ps 54:1

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.

Saul arose 1Sa 23:23-25 24:17 Ps 38:12 140:4-9

three thousand 1Sa 24:2

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.

Hachilah 1Sa 26:1 23:19

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

Jos 2:1 Mt 10:16

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.

Abner 1Sa 9:1 14:50,51 17:55 2Sa 2:8 3:7,8,27,33-38 1Ch 9:39

trench. or, midst of his carriages 1Sa 17:20

The word maugal never signifies a ditch or rampart, but a chariot or waggon way. Nor does it seem to denote a ring of carriages, as Buxtorf and others interpret the word; for it is not probable that Saul would encumber his army with baggage in so rapid a pursuit, nor that so mountainous a country was practicable for waggons. It appears simply to mean here, the circular encampment (from agal, `round') which these troops formed, in the midst of which, as being the place of honour, Saul reposed. An Arab camp, D'Arvieux informs us, is always circular, when the disposition of the ground will permit, the prince being in the middle, and the troops at a respectful distance around him. Add to which, their lances are fixed near them in the ground all the day long, ready for action.

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.

Hittite Ge 10:15 15:20 2Sa 11:6,21,24 12:9 23:39

to Abishai 2Sa 2:18 16:9,10 18:5 23:18 1Ch 2:16

Zeruiah 1Ch 2:15,16

Who will go 1Sa 14:6,7 Jud 7:10,11

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.

sleeping 1Th 5:2,3

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.

God 1Sa 26:23 23:14 24:4,18,19 Jos 21:44 Jud 1:4

delivered [heb] shut up 1Sa 24:18 De 32:30 Ps 31:8 Ro 11:32 Ga 3:22,23

the second time Na 1:9

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

who can stretch 1Sa 24:6,7 2Sa 1:14,16 Ps 105:15

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.

the Lord liveth 1Sa 24:15 25:26,38 Ps 94:1,2,23 Lu 18:7 Ro 12:19 Re 18:8

his day Ge 47:29 De 31:14 Job 7:1 14:5,14 Ps 37:10,13 Ec 3:2 Heb 9:27

he shall descend 1Sa 31:6 De 32:35

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.

that I should 1Sa 24:6,12 2Sa 1:14,16

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 1Sa 26:7 24:4

a deep sleep Ge 2:21 15:12 Es 6:1 Isa 29:10

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:

the top 1Sa 24:8 Jud 9:7

David, by retiring to a place of safety before he called to Abner, seems to have manifested more distrust of Saul than he had done on a former occasion. Yet he desired that Saul and all Israel should be informed of his conduct at this time. Abner and his soldiers, by neglecting to guard Saul when he slept, had exposed his life, and merited to be treated as his enemies, though he confided in them as friends; for, although their sound sleep was undoubtedly supernatural, yet there might be a neglect of placing sentinels, arising from contempt of David's small company. Saul also deemed David his enemy, though he had before spared and protected his life.

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?

there came 1Sa 26:8

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.

there came 1Sa 26:8

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.

worthy to die [heb] the sons of death 1Sa 20:31 2Sa 12:5 19:28 Ps 79:11 102:20 Eph 2:3

Lord's 1Sa 26:9,11 24:6

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.

Is this thy 1Sa 24:8,16

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?

Wherefore 1Sa 24:9,11-14 Ps 7:3-5 35:7 69:4

what have I 1Sa 17:29 Joh 8:46 10:32 18:23

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.

let my lord 1Sa 25:24 Ge 44:18

stirred 1Sa 16:14-23 18:10 2Sa 16:11 24:1 1Ki 22:22 1Ch 21:1

accept [heb] smell Ge 8:21 Le 26:31 Ps 119:1-8

cursed Pr 6:16-19 30:10 Ga 1:8,9 5:12 2Ti 4:14

they have driven De 4:27,28 Jos 22:25-27 Ps 42:1,2 120:5 Isa 60:5 Ro 14:15

abiding [heb] cleaving
the inheritance 2Sa 14:16 20:19

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.

let not my 1Sa 2:9 25:29

the king 1Sa 24:14 Mt 26:47,55

a flea Parohs, (in Arabic borghooth, Syriac, poorthano,) the well known little contemptible and troublesome insect, the flea, seems to be so called from its agility in leaping and skipping, from {para} `free' and `raash', `to leap, bound.' David, by comparing himself to this insect, seems to import, that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he would obtain but very little advantage from it.

a partridge. {Korai} certainly denotes the {partridge}, which is called in Arabic, {kiraa} It seems to be so called from the {cry} or {cur} which it utters when calling its young.

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.

I have sinned 1Sa 15:24,30 24:17 Ex 9:27 Nu 22:34 Mt 27:4

I will no 1Sa 27:4

my soul 1Sa 26:24 18:30 Ps 49:8 116:15

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

render 1Ki 8:32 Ne 13:14 Ps 7:8,9 18:20-26

I would not 1Sa 26:9,11 24:6,7

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.

as thy life Ps 18:25 Mt 5:7 7:2

let him deliver Ge 48:16 Ps 18:1,48 34:17,18 114:2 Ac 14:22 2Co 1:9,10 2Th 3:2 Re 7:14

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.

Blessed 1Sa 24:19 Nu 24:9,10

prevail Ge 32:28 Isa 54:17 Ho 12:4 Ro 8:35,37

So David 1Sa 24:22 Pr 26:25