1 And the Ziphites came to Saul at the Hill, saying, “Is not David hiding at the hill of Hachilah upon the face of the wasteland?” i 2 And Saul arose and went down to Ziph's wilderness, and with him were three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in Ziph's wilderness. 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah which was upon the face of the wasteland by the road. And David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him to the wilderness. 4 And David sent spies, so he knew that Saul had come for certain.
5 And David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped, and David saw the place where Saul laid down, and Abner, son of Lamp, leader of his army. And Saul was lying in the trench, ii and the people were camping around him. 6 And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai iii son of Zeruiah iv brother of Joab, v saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul and to the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7 And David and Abishai came to the people at night, and behold, Saul was lying asleep in the trench. And his spear was stuck in the earth by his head. And Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 And Abishai said to David, “Gods, he has delivered your enemy today into your hand. And now, please let me strike him with a spear and in the earth one time, and I will not do to him again.” 9 And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can send his hand against Yehvah's anointed and be innocent?” 10 And David said, “Yehvah lives, for Yehvah will strike him; or his day will come; and he will die; or in the battle he will go down and be swept away. 11 Far be it for me from Yehvah to send my hand against Yehvah's anointed. And now, please take the spear by his head and jug of water, and let's go.”
12 So, David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head, and they went. And no one saw, and no one knew; and none awoke. For they were all sleeping, because a deep sleep of Yehvah fell upon them. 13 And David crossed over the other side, and stood upon the top of the mountain. The place was with a great distance between them.
14 And David called to the people and to Abner, son of Lamp, saying, “Do you not answer Abner?” And Abner answered and said, “Who are you, you calling out to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? So, why did you not keep guard to your lords, vi the king, for one came in the people to destroy the king, your lords. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. Yehvah lives. So, you vii are sons of death, who did not keep guard viii over your lords, ix over Yehvah's anointed. And now, see. Where is the spear of the king, and the jug of water that was by his head?”
17 And Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son, David?” And David said, “My voice, my lord, the king.” 18 And he said, “Why is this? My lord is pursuing after his servant. For what have I done, and what bad is in my hand? 19 And now, please hear, my lord the king, his servant's words. If Yehvah has incited you against me, let him smell x an offering. And if sons of the Adam, cursed they are before Yehvah. For they have driven me today from joining in Yehvah's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 And now, let not my blood fall to earth before Yehvah's face. For Israel's king has gone out to seek one flea, just as the partridge pursues on the mountains.”
21 And Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son, David, for I will not do bad to you again; because my soul was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and erred very greatly.” 22 And David answered and said, “Behold, the spear of the king, so let one from the young men cross over and take her. 23 And may Yehvah return to each his righteousness and his faithfulness, where Yehvah gave you today in my hand, and I was not willing to send my hand against Yehvah's anointed. 24 And behold, just as your soul was great this day in my eyes, so may my soul be great in Yehvah's eyes; and may he deliver me from every distress.”
25 And Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son, David. Also, you shall surely accomplish, and you are surely capable.” And David went to his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.
- The Ziphites said this same thing in 1 Samuel 23:19. ^
- ל גל עג מע) ma`ggâl) “trench” - see 1 Samuel 17:20. ^
- י ישע בי אב') aviyshay) “Abishai” (= my father is Jesse), this is David's nephew, and brother of Joab and Asahel - found also in 1 Samuel 26:7-9; 2 Samuel 2:18, 24; 3:30; 10:10, 14; 16:9, 11; 18:2, 5, 12, 19:21; 20:6, 10; 21:17; 23:18; 1 Chronicles 2:16; 11:20, 18:12; 19:11, 15. ^
- ה צג) tseruyâh) “Zeruiah” - this is David's sister, and the mother of Joab and Asahel (1 Chronicles 2:16) - found also in 2 Samuel 2:13, 18; 3:39; 8:16; 14:1; 16:9-10; 17:25; 18:2; 19:21-22; 21:17; 23:18, 37; 1 Kings 1:7; 2:5, 22; 1 Chronicles 11:6, 39; 18:12, 15; 26:28; 27:24. ^
- יואלב) yo'âv) “Joab” (David's nephew, see above) - found about 144 times. There is also another Joab in 1 Chronicles 14:4. ^
- ך אב') adoneykhâ) “your lords” - when used of men, this plural “lords” with the second singular suffix (“your”) is always found in a singular context. See Genesis 44:8; 1 Samuel 26:15 (2x); 29:1; 2 Samuel 9:9-10 (2x); 12:8; 16:3; 20:6; 1 Kings 18:8, 11, 14; 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 16; 9:7; 18:27 (2x); Isaiah 22:18; 36:12. It is used for God in Psalm 45:12 & Isaiah 51:22. ^
- אעתים') attem) “you” plural – thus, David is talking to more than just Abner. ^
- l” guard keep) “shemartem (שג מע רג תי ם ^
- ם דננייכי אב') adonêykhem) “your lords” - plural “your” - This plural noun with the second masculine plural suffix ("your") for literally "your lords," ייכםם אדדננ') adonêykhem), is only found being used for men and is found in both a singular and plural context. For singular context, see also 2 Samuel 2:5, 7; 1 Kings 1:33; 2 Kings 10:2-3 (2x), 6; 19:6; Isaiah 37:6. For a plural context, see Jeremiah 27:4. ^
- ח ילרע) yârach) “smell” GNV, JUB, WYC; “accept” NKJV, YLT, NAS, KJV – same verb as e.g. Genesis 8:21; 27:27 (“smelled”); Deuteronomy 4:28 (“smell”); etc. ^
And David said to his heart, “Now, I will be swept away one day by Saul's hand. There's nothing good for me, except to escape. I shall escape to Philistines' land. And Saul will despair from seeking me again in all Israel's border, and I shall escape from his hand.” -- Even though David had spared Saul's life twice now (1 Samuel 24 & 26), and Saul twice acknowledged his error, David still doesn't trust him.
So now, rise early in the morning, and your lords' servants who have come with you, and you-all vi shall rise early in the morning, and you have light, so go.” -- ך נניָד דֹא') adoneykhâ) “your lords” - see footnote for 1 Samuel 26:15.
And the king called for Ziba, Saul's young man, and said to him, “All that was Saul's and all that was his house's, I give to your lords' son. -- יך דנני אד') adoneykhâ) “your lords'” - plural “lords” - see footnote for 1 Samuel 26:15.
And the rulers of sons of Ammon to Hanun, their lords, said, “Does David honor your father in your eyes, because he sent comforters? Is it not for the sake of searching out the city and to spy and to overturn her, David sent his servants to you?” -- םם ננהייהֵדדֹא') adonêyhem) “their lords” - plural noun with plural pronominal suffix (their) w/singular subject. See footnote e.g. 1 Samuel 26:15.