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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:1-12
Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:1-12
(Read 1 Samuel 26:1-12)
How soon do unholy hearts lose the good impressions convictions have made upon them! How helpless were Saul and all his men! All as though disarmed and chained, yet nothing is done to them; they are only asleep. How easily can God weaken the strongest, befool the wisest, and baffle the most watchful! David still resolved to wait till God thought fit to avenge him on Saul. He will by no means force his way to the promised crown by any wrong methods. The temptation was very strong; but if he yielded, he would sin against God, therefore he resisted the temptation, and trusted God with the event.