And Saulpitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is beforeJeshimon, by the way. But Davidabode in the wilderness, and he saw thatSaulcameafter him into the wilderness.
And Davidarose, and came to the placewhereSaul had pitched: and Davidbeheld the placewhereSaul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the peoplepitchedroundabout him.
ThenansweredDavid and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go downwith me to Saul to the camp? And Abishaisaid, I will go downwiththee.
So David and Abishaicame to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleepingwithin the trench, and his spearstuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay roundabout him.
ThensaidAbishai to David, God hathdeliveredthineenemyintothinehandthis day: now therefore let me smite him, I praythee, with the speareven to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the secondtime.
The LORDforbidthat I shouldstretchforthminehandagainst the LORD’Sanointed: but, I praythee, takethou now the spearthat is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
So Davidtook the spear and the cruse of waterfromSaul’sbolster; and they gat themaway, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neitherawaked: for theywere all asleep; because a deepsleepfrom the LORD was fallenuponthem.
And Davidcried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerestthou not, Abner? ThenAbneranswered and said, Who art thouthatcriest to the king?
And Davidsaid to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? whereforethenhastthou not kept thy lord the king? for therecame one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
Thisthing is not goodthatthouhastdone. As the LORDliveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not keptyourmaster, the LORD’Sanointed. And now see where the king’sspear is, and the cruse of waterthat was at his bolster.
Now therefore, I praythee, let my lord the kinghear the words of his servant. If the LORDhavestirredthee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be theybefore the LORD; for theyhavedriven me out this day fromabiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serveothergods.
Now therefore, let not my bloodfall to the earthbefore the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one dothhunt a partridge in the mountains.
ThensaidSaul, I havesinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do theeharm, because my soul was precious in thineeyesthis day: behold, I haveplayed the fool, and haveerredexceedingly.
The LORDrender to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORDdeliveredtheeinto my hand to day, but I would not stretchforthminehandagainst the LORD’Sanointed.
And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mineeyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
ThenSaulsaid to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thoushaltboth do greatthings, and alsoshaltstillprevail. So Davidwent on his way, and Saulreturned to his place.