261 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah , saying , " Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah , which is before e Jeshimon ?" 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph , having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel , to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph . 3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah , which is before e Jeshimon , beside the road , and David was staying in the wilderness . When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness , 4 David sent out spies , and he knew that Saul was definitely coming . 5 David then arose and came to the place where e Saul had camped . And David saw the place where e Saul lay , and Abner the son of Ner , the commander of his army ; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp , and the people were camped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah , Joab's brother , saying , "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp ?" And Abishai said , "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night , and behold , Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head ; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David , "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand ; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke , and I will not strike him the second time ." 9 But David said to Abishai , "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord'S anointed and be without guilt ?" 10 David also said , "As the Lord lives , surely e the Lord will strike him, or his day will come that he dies , or he will go down into battle and perish . 11 " The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord'S anointed ; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water , and let us go ." 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head , and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake , for they were all asleep , because a sound sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner , saying , "Will you not answer , Abner ?" Then Abner replied , "Who are you who calls to the king ?" 15 So David said to Abner , "Are you not a man ? And who is like you in Israel ? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king ? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord . 16 "This thing that you have done is not good . As the Lord lives , all of you must surely die , because you did not guard your lord , the Lord'S anointed . And now , see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head ." 17 Then Saul recognized David's voice and said , " Is this your voice , my son David ?" And David said , "It is my voice , my lord the king ." 18 He also said , " Why then is my lord pursuing his servant ? For what have I done ? Or what evil is in my hand ? 19 "Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant . If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering ; but if it is men e , cursed are they before the Lord , for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the Lord , saying , 'Go , serve other gods .' 20 "Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord ; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea , just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains ."
21 Then Saul said , " I have sinned . Return , my son David , for I will not harm you again because e my life was precious in your sight this day . Behold , I have played the fool and have committed a serious e error ." 22 David replied , "Behold the spear of the king ! Now let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 " The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness ; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today , but I refused e to stretch out my hand against the Lord'S anointed . 24 "Now behold , as your life was highly valued in my sight this day , so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord , and may He deliver me from all distress ." 25 Then Saul said to David , " Blessed are you, my son David ; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail ." So David went on his way , and Saul returned to his place .
