I Samuel 26

שמואל א׳ פרק כ״ו

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 26 of 31 | Day: 71 of 742

Date: April 23, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

The second encounter between David and Saul in the wilderness forms one of the most deliberate literary doublets in the entire book of Samuel. Chapter 26 revisits the same essential scenario as the En-gedi episode in chapter 24 — the Ziphites betray David’s location, Saul pursues with three thousand men, David finds himself in a position to kill the sleeping king, and he refuses — yet the narrative is far from redundant. The repetition is the point. Where chapter 24 might be read as a single moment of noble restraint, chapter 26 elevates David’s refusal into a fixed theological principle. This is not a man who happened to spare Saul once; this is a man who has made the inviolability of the Lord’s anointed (משיח ה׳) the cornerstone of his political theology.

The nocturnal infiltration of Saul’s camp is narrated with extraordinary dramatic tension. David and Abishai creep past the sleeping ranks and stand over the king himself, his spear thrust into the ground at his head, Abner and the entire army sunk in a divinely imposed deep sleep (תרדמה). Abishai’s whispered plea — “God has delivered your enemy into your hands today. Let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust” — presents the temptation in its most acute form. Unlike En-gedi, where David was alone with his conscience, here he faces an eager companion urging action, framing the opportunity as providential. David’s refusal is emphatic: “Who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” (מי שלח ידו במשיח ה׳ ונקה). Radak notes that David articulates three possible fates for Saul — divine stroke, natural death, or death in battle — none of which involve David’s hand. The restraint is not passive but principled: David takes the spear and the water jug as proof of his presence, turning instruments of royal power into evidence of royal vulnerability.

The exchange across the ravine between David and Abner is a masterful piece of rhetorical strategy. By publicly shaming Abner for failing in his duty to protect the king, David accomplishes several things simultaneously. He demonstrates that Saul’s own military apparatus cannot keep him safe, implying that the real guardian of the king’s life is David himself. Metzudat David observes that David’s rebuke — “you all deserve to die” (בני מות אתם) — is not a threat but a legal argument: Abner’s dereliction constitutes a capital offense. The missing spear and water jug serve as irrefutable exhibits. When Saul finally recognizes David’s voice and asks, “Is that your voice, my son David?” (הקולך זה בני דוד), the paternal address underscores the tragic intimacy of their relationship. Saul cannot stop pursuing the man he knows to be both righteous and destined for the throne.

David’s speech in verses 18-20 reaches a theological depth that goes beyond personal grievance. His suggestion that if God has incited Saul against him, “let an offering provide appeasement” (ירח מנחה), but if human advisors are responsible, “may they be accursed of God” (ארורים הם לפני ה׳), draws a sharp distinction between divine testing and human malice. His complaint that he has been “driven out from having a share in the Lord’s inheritance” (נחלת ה׳) and told in effect to “go worship other gods” reveals the exile’s deepest wound: not physical danger but spiritual displacement. Rashi explains that being forced to live outside the Land of Israel is tantamount to being compelled toward idolatry, since the divine presence is uniquely accessible in the land. This theological claim elevates David’s plight from a political dispute to a matter of covenantal belonging.

Saul’s final confession — “I have been a fool, and I have erred so very much” (סכלתי והשגה הרבה מאד) — is more raw and self-aware than his acknowledgment in chapter 24. Yet the narrator offers no reconciliation scene. David does not return the spear in person; he tells Saul to send a young man to retrieve it. The two part ways permanently: “David then went his way, and Saul returned home” (וילך דוד לדרכו ושאול שב למקומו). There is no embrace, no covenant renewal, no shared meal. The text’s restraint mirrors David’s own: mercy does not require trust. David has proven his principle twice over, but he knows that Saul’s repentance, however sincere in the moment, cannot alter the trajectory of events. The chapter closes with prophetic finality, the two men walking in opposite directions toward their respective fates.

פרק כ״ו · Chapter 26

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַזִּפִים֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲל֨וֹא דָוִ֤ד מִסְתַּתֵּר֙ בְּגִבְעַ֣ת הַחֲכִילָ֔ה עַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃

English:

aCf. 23.19 and note. The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding in the hill of Hachilah facing Jeshimon.”

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֣קׇם שָׁא֗וּל וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־זִ֔יף וְאִתּ֛וֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת־אֲלָפִ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ בְּחוּרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּמִדְבַּר־זִֽיף׃

English:

Saul went down at once to the wilderness of Ziph, together with three thousand of Israel’s best troops, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph,

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיִּ֨חַן שָׁא֜וּל בְּגִבְעַ֣ת הַחֲכִילָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֛ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹ֖ן עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וְדָוִד֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיַּ֕רְא כִּ֣י בָ֥א שָׁא֛וּל אַחֲרָ֖יו הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃

English:

and Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah that faces Jeshimon, by the road. When David, who was then living in the wilderness, learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֖ד מְרַגְּלִ֑ים וַיֵּ֕דַע כִּי־בָ֥א שָׁא֖וּל אֶל־נָכֽוֹן׃

English:

David sent out scouts and made sure that Saul had come.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֣קׇם דָּוִ֗ד וַיָּבֹא֮ אֶֽל־הַמָּקוֹם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָנָה־שָׁ֣ם שָׁאוּל֒ וַיַּ֣רְא דָּוִ֗ד אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁכַב־שָׁ֣ם שָׁא֔וּל וְאַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵ֖ר שַׂר־צְבָא֑וֹ וְשָׁאוּל֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל וְהָעָ֖ם חֹנִ֥ים סְבִיבֹתָֽו׃

English:

David went at once to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the spot where Saul and his army commander, Abner son of Ner, lay asleep. Saul lay asleep inside the barricadebbarricade Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. 17.20. and the troops were posted around him.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֨עַן דָּוִ֜ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ אֶל־אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַחִתִּ֗י וְאֶל־אֲבִישַׁ֨י בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֜ה אֲחִ֤י יוֹאָב֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מִֽי־יֵרֵ֥ד אִתִּ֛י אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֔י אֲנִ֖�� אֵרֵ֥ד עִמָּֽךְ׃

English:

David spoke up and asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai answered, “I will go down with you.”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹא֩ דָוִ֨ד וַאֲבִישַׁ֥י ׀ אֶל־הָעָם֮ לַ֒יְלָה֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה שָׁא֗וּל שֹׁכֵ֤ב יָשֵׁן֙ בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל וַחֲנִית֥וֹ מְעוּכָֽה־בָאָ֖רֶץ מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑ו וְאַבְנֵ֣ר וְהָעָ֔ם שֹׁכְבִ֖ים סְבִיבֹתָֽו׃ {ס}        

English:

So David and Abishai approached the troops by night, and found Saul fast asleep inside the barricade,cbarricade See note at v. 5. his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the troops sleeping around him.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲבִישַׁי֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד סִגַּ֨ר אֱלֹהִ֥ים הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־אוֹיִבְךָ֖ בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּה֩ אַכֶּ֨נּוּ נָ֜א בַּחֲנִ֤ית וּבָאָ֙רֶץ֙ פַּ֣עַם אַחַ֔ת וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁנֶ֖ה לֽוֹ׃

English:

And Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hands today. Let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust of the spear. I will not have to strike him twice.”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁ֖י אַל־תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּ כִּ֠י מִ֣י שָׁלַ֥ח יָד֛וֹ בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְנִקָּֽה׃ {פ}

English:

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t do him violence! No one can lay hands on GOD’s anointed with impunity.”

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אִם־יְהֹוָ֖ה יִגֳּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־יוֹמ֤וֹ יָבוֹא֙ ��ָמֵ֔ת א֧וֹ בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה יֵרֵ֖ד וְנִסְפָּֽה׃

English:

And David went on, “As GOD lives, GOD will strike him down directly, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go down to battle and perish.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵיְהֹוָ֔ה מִשְּׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בִּמְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה קַח־נָ֨א אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֜ית אֲשֶׁ֧ר מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛ו וְאֶת־צַפַּ֥חַת הַמַּ֖יִם וְנֵלְכָה־לָּֽנוּ׃

English:

But GOD forbid that I should lay a hand on GOD’s anointed! Just take the spear and the water jar at his head and let’s be off.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּח֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֜ית וְאֶת־צַפַּ֤חַת הַמַּ֙יִם֙ מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֣ין רֹאֶה֩ וְאֵ֨ין יוֹדֵ֜עַ וְאֵ֣ין מֵקִ֗יץ כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ יְשֵׁנִ֔ים כִּ֚י תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה נָפְלָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

So David took away the spear and the water jar at Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew or woke up; all remained asleep; a deep sleep from GOD had fallen upon them.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ר דָּוִד֙ הָעֵ֔בֶר וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד עַל־רֹאשׁ־הָהָ֖ר מֵרָחֹ֑ק רַ֥ב הַמָּק֖וֹם בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

David crossed over to the other side and stood afar on top of a hill; there was considerable distance between them.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֨א דָוִ֜ד אֶל־הָעָ֗ם וְאֶל־אַבְנֵ֤ר בֶּן־נֵר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֲל֥וֹא תַעֲנֶ֖ה אַבְנֵ֑ר וַיַּ֤עַן אַבְנֵר֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר מִ֥י אַתָּ֖ה קָרָ֥אתָ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {פ}

English:

And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Abner, aren’t you going to answer?” And Abner shouted back, “Who are you to shout at the king?”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־אַבְנֵ֜ר הֲלוֹא־אִ֣ישׁ אַתָּ֗ה וּמִ֤י כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלָ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ אֶל־אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּי־בָא֙ אַחַ֣ד הָעָ֔ם לְהַשְׁחִ֖ית אֶת־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֲדֹנֶֽיךָ׃

English:

And David answered Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you?dYou are a man, aren’t you? Or “Aren’t you the one [I hailed]?” And there is no one like you in Israel! So why didn’t you keep watch over your lord the king? For one of [our] troops came to do violence to your lord the king.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

לֹא־ט֞וֹב הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֒יתָ֒ חַי־יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּ֤י בְנֵֽי־מָ֙וֶת֙ אַתֶּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־שְׁמַרְתֶּ֛ם עַל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֖ם עַל־מְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ רְאֵ֗ה אֵֽי־חֲנִ֥ית הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְאֶת־צַפַּ֥חַת הַמַּ֖יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽו׃

English:

You have not given a good account of yourself! As GOD lives, you all deserve to die, because you did not keep watch over your lord, GOD’s anointed. Look around, where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were at his head?”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיַּכֵּ֤ר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל דָּוִ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הֲקֽוֹלְךָ֥ זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד קוֹלִ֖י אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

English:

Saul recognized David’s voice, and he asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And David replied, “It is, my lord king.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אֲדֹנִ֥י רֹדֵ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י עַבְדּ֑וֹ כִּ֚י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתִי ו��מַה־בְּיָדִ֖י רָעָֽה׃

English:

And he went on, “But why does my lord continue to pursue his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה יִֽשְׁמַֽע־נָא֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י עַבְדּ֑וֹ אִם־יְהֹוָ֞ה הֱסִֽיתְךָ֥ בִי֙ יָרַ֣ח מִנְחָ֔ה וְאִ֣ם ׀ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֗ם אֲרוּרִ֥ים הֵם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּֽי־גֵרְשׁ֣וּנִי הַיּ֗וֹם מֵהִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַ בְּנַחֲלַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֵ֥ךְ עֲבֹ֖ד אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים׃

English:

Now let my lord the king hear his servant out. If GOD has incited you against me, let an offering provide appeasement;eappeasement Cf. Amos 5.21. but if it was other people, may they be accursed of GOD! For they have driven me out today, so that I cannot have a share in GOD’s possession, but am told, ‘Go and worship other gods.’

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה אַל־יִפֹּ֤ל דָּמִי֙ אַ֔רְצָה מִנֶּ֖גֶד פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָצָ֞א מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֣שׁ אֶחָ֔ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִרְדֹּ֥ף הַקֹּרֵ֖א בֶּהָרִֽים׃

English:

Oh, let my blood not fall to the ground, away from GOD’s presence! For the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea—as if he were hunting a partridge in the hills.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ שָׁא֨וּל חָטָ֜אתִי שׁ֣וּב בְּנִֽי־דָוִ֗ד כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אָרַ֤ע לְךָ֙ ע֔וֹד תַּ֠חַת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָקְרָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֛י בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה הִנֵּ֥ה הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי וָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

English:

And Saul answered, “I am in the wrong. Come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, seeing how you have held my life precious this day. Yes, I have been a fool, and I have erred so very much.”

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֤עַן דָּוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הִנֵּ֖ה (החנית) [חֲנִ֣ית] הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְיַעֲבֹ֛ר אֶחָ֥ד מֵהַנְּעָרִ֖ים וְיִקָּחֶֽהָ׃

English:

David replied, “Here is Your Majesty’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַֽיהֹוָה֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לָאִ֔ישׁ אֶת־צִדְקָת֖וֹ וְאֶת־אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר֩ נְתָנְךָ֨ יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ הַיּוֹם֙ בְּיָ֔ד וְלֹ֣א אָבִ֔יתִי לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

And GOD will requite everyone for their right conduct and loyalty—for this day GOD delivered you into myfmy So many mss.; other mss. and editions omit. hands andgGOD will requite … into my hands and Or “may GOD requite, for his right conduct and loyalty, the man into whose hands GOD delivered you this day—for”; cf. Abravanel. I would not raise a hand against GOD’s anointed.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְהִנֵּ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְלָ֧ה נַפְשְׁךָ֛ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בְּעֵינָ֑י כֵּ֣ן תִּגְדַּ֤ל נַפְשִׁי֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיַצִּלֵ֖נִי מִכׇּל־צָרָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

And just as I valued your life highly this day, so may GOD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד בָּר֤וּךְ אַתָּה֙ בְּנִ֣י דָוִ֔ד גַּ֚ם עָשֹׂ֣ה תַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְגַ֖ם יָכֹ֣ל תּוּכָ֑ל וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ לְדַרְכּ֔וֹ וְשָׁא֖וּל שָׁ֥ב לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ {פ}

English:

Saul answered David, “May you be blessed, my son David. You shall achieve, and you shall prevail.”David then went his way, and Saul returned home.

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