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Chapter 26
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1
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And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth
not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is
before Jeshimon? |
2
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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
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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
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David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul
was come in very deed. |
5
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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, and the people pitched round about him. |
6
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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
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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
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Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered 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
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And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and
be guiltless? |
10
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD
liveth, ye are worthy to die, 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
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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
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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
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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 accept 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
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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
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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
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And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear!
and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. |
23
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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
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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
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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. |
