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1 Samuel 26

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1 Samuel 26 Overview

The Ziphites again tell Saul where David is hiding, and Saul returns with three thousand men. David enters Saul’s camp at night with Abishai and finds Saul sleeping beside his spear. Abishai urges David to kill Saul with one stroke, but David refuses, taking only the spear and water cruse. From a safe distance David rebukes Abner for failing to guard the king and once again demonstrates his innocence to Saul.

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Before you read 1 Samuel 26

Coming from

Chapter 25 showed David nearly taking vengeance against Nabal but being restrained before bloodshed, while the LORD dealt with Nabal Himself.

In this chapter

David again receives a direct opportunity to kill Saul and again refuses, this time explicitly stating that the LORD Himself can remove Saul in His own way and time.

Leads into

Chapter 27 shows David becoming discouraged about Saul’s continued pursuit and choosing to live in Philistine territory under Achish of Gath.

Key understandingExplore deeper

This episode is similar to chapter 24 but contains distinct setting and details: instead of a cave, Saul is asleep in a camp; instead of cutting a robe, David takes Saul’s spear and water vessel. David’s explanation is especially clear—he will not stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and he can imagine several ways God may end Saul’s life without David becoming Saul’s killer. The deep sleep over the camp is attributed to the LORD, making the opportunity a test of restraint rather than permission to murder.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Repeated temptation requires repeated obedience; one earlier victory over vengeance does not remove the need to choose rightly again.

Truth 2

David refuses Abishai’s claim that a providential opportunity automatically equals divine permission to kill.

Truth 3

David leaves Saul’s death to the LORD rather than deciding that the promised kingdom justifies an unlawful shortcut.

Truth 4

Saul again confesses wrong, but the reader has learned not to confuse words of remorse with a stable change of course.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Chapter 24 provides the earlier distinct occasion when David spared Saul in a cave, allowing the two episodes to reinforce rather than duplicate the central lesson.

Connection 2

Romans 12:19 gives the later apostolic command against personal vengeance, consistent with David’s refusal to take Saul’s life into his own hands.

Connection 3

1 Samuel 31 will show Saul dying in battle without David killing him, vindicating David’s insistence that the LORD could remove Saul in His own time.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not collapse chapters 24 and 26 into one event merely because both involve David sparing Saul; the locations, circumstances, objects taken, and conversations differ.

Keep this clear 2

Providence creates the opportunity, but David still evaluates what would be right. This is a warning against interpreting every open door as God’s approval of whatever action becomes possible.

Keep this clear 3

Saul’s confession should be read in light of the whole story. Emotional words are not the same as durable repentance in conduct.

Read 1 Samuel 26 watching for…

Who goes with David into Saul’s camp.

What Abishai believes the opportunity means.

David’s reasons for refusing to kill Saul.

The objects David takes as evidence.

Why David rebukes Abner.

Saul’s final words to David in their last recorded meeting.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-5The Ziphites report David again, and David observes Saul’s camp 6-12David and Abishai enter the camp, but David again refuses to kill Saul 13-20David calls to Abner and appeals to Saul from a distance 21-25Saul confesses his wrong, blesses David, and they separate

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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1 Samuel 26:5

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