Dual Panel1Then the Ziphites<2130> came<935> to Saul<7586> at Gibeah<1390>, saying<559>, "Is not David<1732> hiding<5641> on the hill<1389> of Hachilah<2444>, which is before<5921><6440> Jeshimon<3452>?"
2So Saul<7586> arose<6965> and went<3381> down<3381> to the wilderness<4057> of Ziph<2128>, having with him three<7969> thousand<505> chosen<977> men<376> of Israel<3478>, to search<1245> for David<1732> in the wilderness<4057> of Ziph<2128>.
3Saul<7586> camped<2583> in the hill<1389> of Hachilah<2444>, which<834> is before<5921><6440> Jeshimon<3452>, beside<5921> the road<1870>, and David<1732> was staying<3427> in the wilderness<4057>. When he saw<7200> that Saul<7586> came<935> after<310> him into the wilderness<4057>,
4David<1732> sent<7971> out spies<7270>, and he knew<3045> that Saul<7586> was definitely<3559> coming<935>.
5David<1732> then arose<6965> and came<935> to the place<4725> where<834><8033> Saul<7586> had camped<2583>. And David<1732> saw<7200> the place<4725> where<834><8033> Saul<7586> lay<7901>, and Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369>, the commander<8269> of his army<6635>; and Saul<7586> was lying<7901> in the circle<4570> of the camp<4570>, and the people<5971> were camped<2583> around<5439> him.
6Then David<1732> said<559> to Ahimelech<288> the Hittite<2850> and to Abishai<52> the son<1121> of Zeruiah<6870>, Joab's<3097> brother<251>, saying<559>, "Who<4310> will go<3381> down<3381> with me to Saul<7586> in the camp<4264>?" And Abishai<52> said<559>, "I will go<3381> down<3381> with you."
7So David<1732> and Abishai<52> came<935> to the people<5971> by night<3915>, and behold<2009>, Saul<7586> lay<7901> sleeping<3463> inside the circle<4570> of the camp<4570> with his spear<2595> stuck<4600> in the ground<776> at his head<4763>; and Abner<74> and the people<5971> were lying<7901> around<5439> him.
8Then Abishai<52> said<559> to David<1732>, "Today<3117> God<430> has delivered<5462> your enemy<340> into your hand<3027>; now<6258> therefore, please<4994> let me strike<5221> him with the spear<2595> to the ground<776> with one<259> stroke<6471>, and I will not strike him the second<8138> time<8138>."
9But David<1732> said<559> to Abishai<52>, "Do not destroy<7843> him, for who<4310> can stretch<7971> out his hand<3027> against the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899> and be without<5352> guilt<5352>?"
10David<1732> also said<559>, "As the LORD<3068> lives<2416>, surely<3588><518> the LORD<3068> will strike<5062> him, or<176> his day<3117> will come<935> that he dies<4191>, or<176> he will go<3381> down<3381> into battle<4421> and perish<5595>.
11"The LORD<3068> forbid<2486> that I should stretch<7971> out my hand<3027> against the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>; but now<6258> please<4994> take<3947> the spear<2595> that is at his head<4763> and the jug<6835> of water<4325>, and let us go<1980>."
12So David<1732> took<3947> the spear<2595> and the jug<6835> of water<4325> from beside Saul's<7586> head<4763>, and they went<1980> away, but no<369> one<369> saw<7200> or knew<3045> it, nor<369> did any awake<7019>, for they were all<3605> asleep<3463>, because<3588> a sound<8639> sleep<8639> from the LORD<3068> had fallen<5307> on them.
13Then David<1732> crossed<5674> over<5674> to the other<5676> side<5676> and stood<5975> on top<7218> of the mountain<2022> at a distance<7350> with a large<7227> area<4725> between<996> them.
14David<1732> called<7121> to the people<5971> and to Abner<74> the son<1121> of Ner<5369>, saying<559>, "Will you not answer<6030>, Abner<74>?" Then Abner<74> replied<6030>, "Who<4310> are you who calls<7121> to the king<4428>?"
15So David<1732> said<559> to Abner<74>, "Are you not a man<376>? And who<4310> is like<3644> you in Israel<3478>? Why<4100> then have you not guarded<8104> your lord<113> the king<4428>? For one<259> of the people<5971> came<935> to destroy<7843> the king<4428> your lord<113>.
16"This<2088> thing<1697> that you have done<6213> is not good<2896>. As the LORD<3068> lives<2416>, all of you must<1121> surely<3588> die<4194>, because<834> you did not guard<8104> your lord<113>, the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>. And now<6258>, see<7200> where<335> the king's<4428> spear<2595> is and the jug<6835> of water<4325> that was at his head<4763>."
17Then Saul<7586> recognized<5234> David's<1732> voice<6963> and said<559>, "Is this<2088> your voice<6963>, my son<1121> David<1732>?" And David<1732> said<559>, "It is my voice<6963>, my lord<113> the king<4428>."
18He also said<559>, "Why<4100> then<2088> is my lord<113> pursuing<7291> his servant<5650>? For what<4100> have I done<6213>? Or what<4100> evil<7463> is in my hand<3027>?
19"Now<6258> therefore, please<4994> let my lord<113> the king<4428> listen<8085> to the words<1697> of his servant<5650>. If<518> the LORD<3068> has stirred<5496> you up against me, let Him accept<7381> an offering<4503>; but if<518> it is men<1121><120>, cursed<779> are they before<6440> the LORD<3068>, for they have driven<1644> me out today<3117> so<4480> that I would have no<4480> attachment<5596> with the inheritance<5159> of the LORD<3068>, saying<559>, 'Go<1980>, serve<5647> other<312> gods<430>.'
20"Now<6258> then, do not let my blood<1818> fall<5307> to the ground<776> away<5048> from the presence<6440> of the LORD<3068>; for the king<4428> of Israel<3478> has come<3318> out to search<1245> for a single<259> flea<6550>, just<3512> as one hunts<7291> a partridge<7124> in the mountains<2022>."
21Then Saul<7586> said<559>, "I have sinned<2398>. Return<7725>, my son<1121> David<1732>, for I will not harm<7489> you again<5750> because<8478><834> my life<5315> was precious<3365> in your sight<5869> this<2088> day<3117>. Behold<2009>, I have played<5528> the fool<5528> and have committed<7686> a serious<7235><3966> error<7686>."
22David<1732> replied<6030>, "Behold<2009> the spear<2595> of the king<4428>! Now let one<259> of the young<5288> men<5288> come<5674> over<5674> and take<3947> it.
23"The LORD<3068> will repay<7725> each<376> man<376> for his righteousness<6666> and his faithfulness<530>; for the LORD<3068> delivered<5414> you into my hand<3027> today<3117>, but I refused<3808><14> to stretch<7971> out my hand<3027> against the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>.
24"Now behold<2009>, as your life<5315> was highly<1431> valued<1431> in my sight<5869> this<2088> day<3117>, so<3651> may my life<5315> be highly<1431> valued<1431> in the sight<5869> of the LORD<3068>, and may He deliver<5337> me from all<3605> distress<6869>."
25Then Saul<7586> said<559> to David<1732>, "Blessed<1288> are you, my son<1121> David<1732>; you will both<1571> accomplish<6213> much<6213> and surely<3201> prevail<3201>." So David<1732> went<1980> on his way<1870>, and Saul<7586> returned<7725> to his place<4725>.