I Samuel 26, Another Test for David

Saul continues to pursue David.

I Samuel 26: 1-5, Pursuit to the hill of Hakilah

The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?" So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. 

When he saw that Saul had followed him there, he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

David knows that Saul has pursed him to his hideout and manages to spy on Saul's encampment.

I Samuel 26: 6-11, Slipping into camp

David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" 

"I'll go with you," said Abishai. 

So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."

But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."

David and two other men (one a Hittite, not an Israelite) slip into Saul's camp, where they find Saul asleep, unprotected. Abishai says, "One thrust from my spear is all that is needed. I won't need a second thrust!" The imagery is strong, to pin Saul to the ground like an insect pinned to a board. Saul has twice throne this spear at David and missed; Abishai promises not to miss!

According to 1 Chronicles 2: 13-16, Zeruiah is David's sister and so Abishai and Joab are nephews of David.

But David says, "No, I am not in charge here.  Let YHWH do it."

I Samuel 26: 12-16, "You didn't guard your king!"

So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep. Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them.

He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?"

Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

David said, "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"

Previously, when Saul was vulnerable, David took part of his robe. Now David takes the spear and water jug. David then accuses Abner of leaving his king unprotected. 

I Samuel 26: 17-20, Why pursue David?

Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" 

David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?

"Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, `Go, serve other gods.'

Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea--as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

David makes Saul aware of Saul's vulnerability and, once again, of David's integrity.  David calls on YHWH to be the judge between them. As before, he identifies himself as a mere flea. As before, he challenges Saul for wasting his time hunting fleas. Or partridges.

David has been repeatedly rejected by Saul. For David, the rejection by the king of Israel denies him the inheritance given by YHWH and is, in effect, a command to go serve other gods. It is the most devastating humiliation for a soldier who has tried to defend Israel at every stage.

Alter says there is a play on words here.  The Hebrew word for "partridge" is a homonym for the Hebrew "he who calls out". David answers "who calls out?" with the same sounds.

I Samuel 26: 21-25, "I have sinned""

Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly.

"Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble."

Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph." 

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Once again, like Pharaoh long before him, Saul repents. Again. For a short time.

Despite Saul's promises, David is aware this cannot continue.