1 Samuel 26:18
1 Samuel 26:18 in Multiple Translations
And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
And he said, Why does my lord go armed against his servant? what have I done? or what evil is there in me?
“Why is my lord hunting me, his servant? What is it that I've done? What crime am I guilty of?” he continued.
And he sayde, Wherefore doeth my lorde thus persecute his seruant? for what haue I done? or what euill is in mine hand?
and he saith, 'Why [is] this — my lord is pursuing after his servant? for what have I done, and what [is] in my hand evil?
He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
And he said, Why doth my lord thus pursue his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
And he said: Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What have I done? or what evil is there in my hand?
Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?
Why do you always chase me? I did not do anything wrong. Why do you blame me?
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 26:18
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1 Samuel 26:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 26:18
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 26:18
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 26:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 26:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 26:18
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:18
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 26:18
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 26:18
Context — David Reproves Abner
18And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 24:9 | and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 24:11–14 | See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 3 | John 10:32 | But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” |
| 4 | John 8:46 | Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? |
| 5 | Psalms 7:3–5 | O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands, if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause, then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah |
| 6 | Psalms 35:7 | For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. |
| 7 | John 18:23 | Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?” |
| 8 | Psalms 69:4 | Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay. |
| 9 | 1 Samuel 17:29 | “What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?” |
1 Samuel 26:18 Summary
[In this verse, David is asking King Saul why he is trying to hurt him, and what he has done wrong. David is seeking to understand the king's actions and to clear his name. This shows that David is a man of integrity who wants to do what is right, and is willing to ask questions and seek understanding, even in difficult circumstances, as seen in Proverbs 10:9. By looking at David's example, we can learn how to respond to difficult situations in our own lives with humility and respect, and trust God to bring justice and vindication, as promised in Deuteronomy 32:4.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did David ask King Saul why he was pursuing him?
David asked King Saul this question because he was genuinely perplexed as to why the king was seeking to harm him, as seen in 1 Samuel 26:18, and he wanted to understand the reason behind the king's actions, similar to how Jesus asked His disciples if they understood His teachings in Matthew 16:12
What did David mean by 'What evil is in my hand?'?
David was asking King Saul if there was any wrongdoing or evil that he, David, had committed, and if so, he wanted to know what it was, as he was seeking to clear his name and understand the king's motivations, much like the Psalmist in Psalms 7:3-5 who asks God to judge him if he has done evil
How does this verse relate to David's overall attitude towards King Saul?
This verse shows that David still had a great deal of respect for King Saul, as he referred to him as 'my lord', and was seeking to understand the king's actions, rather than simply attacking him, which reflects the teachings of Romans 13:1-2 about submitting to those in authority
What can we learn from David's example in this verse about how to respond to persecution?
We can learn from David's example that even in the face of persecution, we should seek to understand the motivations of those who are persecuting us, and respond with humility and respect, as seen in 1 Peter 2:20-23, which teaches us to follow Jesus' example of suffering unjustly
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can respond to difficult circumstances in my life with the same humility and respect that David showed to King Saul?
- How can I seek to understand the motivations of those who may be opposing me, rather than simply reacting in anger or frustration?
- What are some things that I can do to 'clear my name' and demonstrate my integrity in the face of false accusations or misunderstandings?
- How can I trust God to vindicate me and bring justice in situations where I am being wrongly accused or persecuted, as David did in 1 Samuel 26:10?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 26:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 26:18
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:18
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:18
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 26:18
Sermons on 1 Samuel 26:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Fifth Commandment by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes the broader implications of the Fifth Commandment, which calls for honoring not only our parents but all authorities established by God. He explains that this |
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The Glory of God - Part 2 by Charles Leiter | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the difficulty of fully understanding and describing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the miraculous works of Jesus |
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The Nature of Love to God and Christ, Opened and Enforced by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the essential nature of divine love to God, emphasizing that without it, all religious acts are in vain. He challenges the common assumption of sincere |
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K-447 Israel Overview by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of waiting for the fullness of the Gentiles to come into the church before the deliverance of Israel. He draws parallels betwee |
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Reason for Hope 2 by Peter Maiden | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the impact of Jesus' life and teachings on humanity. He emphasizes that Jesus' sinlessness is a remarkable aspect of his character, as he chal |
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An Ark of Acacia Wood by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ, illustrating this through the symbolism of the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament. He explains that the a |
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What Is Your Soil Condition? by Duane Troyer | Duane Troyer preaches about the importance of having a heart that is receptive to the Word of God, using the parable of the sower to illustrate the different conditions of the hear |






