1 Samuel 26

1 Then the Ziphites [inhabitants of Ziph, a city in Judah] came to Saul [Shaul, meaning desired] at Gibeah [a city in Palestine, birthplace of King Saul] and said, “Is not David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] hiding [to conceal oneself, keep secret] on the hill [a small elevation] of Hachilah [a place in southern Judah], opposite [before, in the presence of] Jeshimon [the wilderness, a desolate place]?” word study 2 So Saul [arose, stood up], accompanied by three [thrice, a multiple of unity] thousand [a large number, a company of] chosen [selected, picked out] men of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s people], went down [descended, to a lower place] to the Wilderness [a desert, open field] of Ziph [a Judahite, son of Jehallelel] to search [seek, look for] for David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] there [in that place, location]. word study 3 Saul [the king of Israel, Shaul] camped [pitched his tent, encamped] beside the road at the hill of Hachilah [a place of refuge, Gibeat Hachilah] opposite Jeshimon [the wilderness, a desolate place], but David [the future king, the anointed one] was living [dwelling, abiding] in the wilderness [the desert, a place of solitude]. When he realized [saw, perceived] that Saul [the pursuer, the one seeking his life] had followed him there [come after him, pursued him into the wilderness], word study 4 David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] sent out [dispatched, to gather information] spies [to explore, scout out] to verify [to know, understand, be certain] that Saul [Shaul, meaning desired] had arrived [come, entered the area, to Nachon]. word study 5 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] set out and went to the place [location, region] where Saul [Shaul, meaning desired] had camped [pitched his tent, encamped]. He saw the place [location, spot] where Saul and Abner [the son of Ner, a prominent Israelite] son of Ner, the general [ruler, captain] of his army [large group of people], had lain down [to rest, sleep]. Saul was lying [to rest, recline] inside the inner circle [track, path] of the camp, with the troops [people, nation] camped [pitched their tents] around [surrounding, encompassing] him. word study 6 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] asked Ahimelech [a priest and friend of King David] the Hittite [a descendant of Heth] and Abishai [my father is Jesse, nephew of King David] son of Zeruiah [balsam or fragrant oil, sister of David], Joab’s [Jehovah is father, prominent Israelite] brother, “Who [what person, which one] will go down [to descend, to a lower place] with me [in my company, together] to Saul [desired, a Benjamite king] in the camp [a group of people, an army]?” “I [the first person singular, myself] will go with you [in your company, together],” answered Abishai [my father is Jesse, nephew of King David]. word study 7 That night [in the darkness, under the cover of evening] David and Abishai came to the troops [the army, the people], and Saul was lying [sleeping, resting] there asleep [in a deep sleep, unconscious] in the inner circle [the midst, the center] of the camp, with his spear [lance, javelin] stuck in the ground [fixed, planted] by his head [pillow, headrest]. And Abner [the commander, the leader] and the troops [the people, the army] were lying [sleeping, resting] around [surrounding, encircling] him. word study 8 Abishai said to David, “Today [in this present moment, at this opportune time] God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] has delivered [handed over, surrendered] your enemy [opponent, adversary] into your hand [power, control]. Now [at this time], therefore, please [I pray, I ask] let me thrust [strike, smite] the spear [lance, weapon] through him into the ground [land, earth] with one stroke [beat, blow]. I will not need to strike [smite, hit] him twice [a second time, again]!” word study 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not [refrain from, let not be] destroy him, for who can lift a hand [stretch forth his hand, put out his hand] against the LORD’s [Yehovah, the supreme God] anointed [Messiah, the chosen king] and be guiltless [without sin, cleared of wrongdoing]?” word study 10 David added, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has eternal life], the LORD [the supreme God] Himself will strike him down [smite, punish]; either his day [appointed time, natural lifespan] will come and he will die [pass away, meet his end], or he will go into battle [war, conflict] and perish [be destroyed, swept away]. word study 11 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] forbid [express strong disapproval, God forbid] that I should stretch out my hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] against the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] anointed [Messiah, set apart for God’s purpose]. Instead, take [get, receive] the spear [a thrusting weapon] and water jug [a container for liquids] by his head [place of rest or authority], and let us go [walk, move from this place].” word study 12 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] took the spear [a thrusting weapon, like a lance] and water jug [a container for liquids, a cruse] by Saul’s head [the place of rest, a pillow], and they departed [walked away, went from that place]. No one saw them [was aware of their presence] or knew about it [had knowledge of their actions], nor did anyone wake up [arise from sleep, become alert]; they all remained asleep [in a state of deep slumber, resting], because a deep sleep [a trance-like state, a heavy drowsiness] from the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] had fallen [come down, been sent] on them. word study 13 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] crossed [passed over, transitioned] to the other [opposite] side and stood [in a strong sense, firmly] atop [upon, above] the mountain [hill] at a distance [far away, remote]; there was a wide [great, considerable] gulf [space, place] between [in the midst of, separating] them. word study 14 And David shouted [cried out, called loudly] to the troops [people, army] and to Abner [the son of Ner, a prominent Israelite] son of Ner, “Will you not [is it not possible for you to] answer me, Abner [the commander, the leader]?” “Who [what person, which one] calls [cries out, shouts] to the king [the ruler, the monarch]?” Abner replied [answered, responded]. word study 15 So David said to Abner, “You are a [valiant, mighty] man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal [equal, like you]? Why then did you not [keep watch, protect] protect your lord [master, king] the king when one of the people [a single individual, a lone attacker] came to destroy [ruin] him? word study 16 This thing [not good, evil] you have done is not good [pleasant, beneficial]. As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives, all of you deserve to die [are worthy of death, sons of death], since you did not protect [keep watch over, guard] your lord [master, ruler], the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] anointed [Messiah, chosen one]. Now look around [see, observe]. Where [in what place] are the king’s [royal, sovereign] spear [lance, thrusting weapon] and water jug [cruse, flat jar] that were by his head [headrest, place of rest]?” word study 17 Then Saul [Shaul, the desired one] recognized [to scrutinize, to treat as familiar] David’s [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] voice [the sound of a person speaking, a voice of authority] and asked, “Is that your voice [the sound of your speaking], David [the beloved king] my son [a descendant, a child of God]?” “It is my voice [the sound of my words], my lord [the supreme master] and king [the ruler, the one in authority],” David said. word study 18 And he continued, “Why [for what reason, on what grounds] is my lord [master, ruler] pursuing [chasing, following with hostile intent] his servant [slave, one who serves]? What [what thing, what act] have I done [committed, performed]? What evil [bad, wicked] is in my hand [power, control]? word study 19 Now please [at this moment, I pray], may my lord [master, ruler] the king [sovereign, monarch] hear [listen, obey] the words [message, testimony] of his servant [bondservant, slave]: If the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has stirred [incited, provoked] you up against me, then may He accept [receive, welcome] an offering [gift, sacrifice]. But if men [mortal beings, humans] have done it, may they be cursed [condemned, punished] in the presence [face, sight] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty]! For today [this day, at this time] they have driven [expelled, forced] me away from sharing [participating, inheriting] in the inheritance [possession, legacy] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Redeemer], saying [commanding, instructing], ‘Go [depart, leave], serve [worship, obey] other gods [idols, false deities].’ word study 20 So do not let my blood [life, the essence of my being] fall to the ground [land, earth] far from the presence [face, before] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. For the king [ruler, monarch] of Israel [God’s chosen people] has come out [gone forth, emerged] to look for [seek, search] a flea [a small, insignificant thing], like one who hunts [pursues, chases] a partridge [a type of bird] in the mountains [hills, high places].” word study 21 Then Saul replied, “I have [deeply] sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong]. Come back, David my [beloved] son. I will never [again, from this day forward] harm you again, because today you considered my life [soul, very being] precious [valuable, of great worth]. I have played the fool [acted foolishly, been silly] and have committed a grave [exceedingly great] error [mistake, wrongdoing]!” word study 22 “Here is the king’s [royal, belonging to the monarch] spear [lance, thrusting pole],” David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] answered [responded, gave a reply]. “Let one [a single, unique] of the young men [youths, from infancy to adolescence] come over [cross over, transition] and get [take, receive] it [the spear, the king’s weapon]. word study 23 May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] repay every man [individual, human being] for his righteousness [justice, virtue, moral integrity] and faithfulness [firmness, security, fidelity]. For the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme Ruler] delivered you into my hand [power, control] today [this day, at this time], but I would not stretch out my hand [refuse to use my power] against the LORD’s [Yehovah’s] anointed [Messiah, chosen one]. word study 24 As surely [with utmost certainty, in the same way] as I valued [considered precious, spared] your life [soul, being] today [on this day, at this moment], so may the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] value [consider precious, magnify] my life [soul, being] and rescue [deliver, save] me from all [every, each] trouble [tribulation, distress].” word study 25 Saul said to him, “May you be blessed [highly favored, prospered], David my son [beloved child, descendant]. You will accomplish [do, achieve] great things [mighty works, noble deeds] and will surely [without fail, certainly] prevail [overcome, triumph].” So David went on his way [journey, path], and Saul returned [turned back, went back] home [to his place, residence]. word study