1 Samuel 26:1-25 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

1 Samuel 26:5. Saul lay in the trench. Junius reads, “among the waggons;” the Vulgate, “He slept in the tent.” The Romans mostly fortified their camp; the Greeks did the same on the Trojan shore.

1 Samuel 26:6. Zeruiah. She was David's sister, and had three sons; Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, the last of whom Abner slew. 1 Chronicles 2:16.

1 Samuel 26:25. So David went on his way; and would not trust his life in the hands of the Benjamites.

REFLECTIONS.

Whether the Ziphites were afraid of Saul's displeasure, or whether they thought to do the king a favour by acting as spies over David, is not asserted; but evident it is, that they acted a very insidious part. Had David been of Saul's temper on his coming to the throne, their policy would have received a full reward.

Saul, who seems to have entertained no designs against David after losing the skirts of his robe, found all his bad and lurking passions revive on receiving information of the Ziphites. How lamentable and dangerous is it to suffer jealousy, malice, or any wicked passion to corrode the heart. It may rise with strength in the hour of temptation, and cover better men than Saul with confusion of face.

This new calamity coming on David, afforded him another opportunity for the display of virtue. The sudden and secret approach of the king inspired his soul, not with fear but with fortitude. He felt the spirit of his anointing return, as when he slew the lion and the bear; and as when he went against Goliath with a sling and a stone in the name of his God. Calumniated on every side, he had no way of justifying himself but by his actions. Presuming therefore on the negligence of Saul's camp, and on his valour in case of alarm, he resolved to give the king a second proof of his innocence by sparing his life. Abishai seconded his view: so these two men performed a deed which enrolled their names in the annals of immortality.

Mark the providential care of God over his covenant servant. Correspondent to David's courage, a deep sleep from God had fallen on Saul and his houshold troops. David and Abishai entered the camp; the weary monarch extended in profound repose, his guards were all secure around him; for David was their guardian. And happy that it was David, not Abishai, who presided in command. He left him as he found him, in profound safety and repose. He took only the splendid spear, and the pitcher from the bolster of the king. Here God gave David a most singular proof of his faithfulness and care, that he might learn to fear him and none besides.

No sooner did the day dawn, than David was the first to beat the reveille to the slumbering foe. He cried and shouted from the adjacent hill, bearing a trophy in each hand. His triumph over Abner in point of generalship is consummate in its kind. “Answerest thou not, Abner? Art not thou a valiant man? And who is like to thee in Israel? Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king?” Abner was silent; Abner was covered with shame. Thus in the sight of God and all good men shall the workers of iniquity be put to silence.

Saul hearing David's voice, and knowing now that he had twice spared his life, was pierced to the heart, and more deeply than Abishai could have pierced him while asleep. Coals of fire were heaped on his head; and his heart though very hard, melted in the flame. He confessed his sin, and avowed his folly; he blessed his son, and invited him home. And as Saul never saw David after that morning, it was a happiness that they parted so tenderly, and that the king so faithfully in future kept his covenant with his servant. Why should we not hope from this contrition all that charity would prompt us to hope?

Mark the piety of David amid the severities of a long exile. His chief grievance arose from being driven out from the Lord's inheritance, and from being bid to go and serve other gods; a calamity which tempted him to the destruction of both his body and his soul: he himself knew best how to comment on this calamity, and to appreciate the privileges of an Israelite. ”How amiable are thy tabernacles, oh Lord of hosts. My soul longeth, yea, fainteth for the courts of the Lord.” He envied the little birds who could build their nests in his house, and preferred the office of a doorkeeper there to that of a prince in the tents of wickedness.

Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 26:1

1 Samuel 26:1-25

1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench,a and the people pitched round about him.

6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath deliveredb thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die,c because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him acceptd an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.