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 ?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:5-14
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.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:13-20
(Read 1 Samuel 26:13-20)
David reasoned seriously and affectionately with Saul. Those who forbid our attendance on God's ordinances, do what they can to estrange us from God, and to make us heathens. We are to reckon that which exposes us to sin the greatest injury that can be done us. If the Lord stirred thee up against me, either in displeasure to me, taking this way to punish me for my sins against him, or in displeasure to thee, if it be the effect of that evil spirit from the Lord which troubles thee; let Him accept an offering from us both. Let us join in seeking peace, and to be reconciled with God by sacrifice.