1 Sam. 26:7-12, 21-25 - Constable Overview
1. Saul's encampment near the hill of Hachilah 26:1-5
The Ziphites betrayed David a second time (cf. 1 Samuel 23:19). David was again hiding by the hill of Hachilah (1 Samuel 23:19). When Saul came down from Gibeah with his 3,000 (or three military units of) soldiers, he camped near the main road. David had only 600 men (1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 25:13). David evidently stayed on the other side of the hill (1 Samuel 26:3). Perhaps he went up on the hill at night to survey Saul's encampment and there spotted Saul and Abner in the middle of the camp (1 Samuel 26:5). Saul should have been very secure, surrounded as he was by his men, but really he was very vulnerable (cf. 1 Sam 26:12).
2. Abishai's offer to kill Saul 26:6-12 - Lesson Verses
Ahimelech the Hittite may have been a foreign mercenary (cf. Uriah the Hittite, 2 Samuel 11:3). The writer may have mentioned his Hittite connection to show the extent of David's appeal. Abishai was David's nephew, one of the sons of his sister Zeruiah (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:15-16). Joab, who later became David's commander-in-chief, was Abishai's brother.
Saul had used his spear to attack David three times (cf. 1 Sam 18:10; 20:33). It was, therefore, an instrument of death. It was also the symbol of Saul's rule, similar to a scepter (cf. 1 Sam 22:6). Abishai's viewpoint was carnal. He concluded that because God had given David the upper hand he should use it to do away with his rival (1 Sam 26:8; 24:4). David had used similar words when he promised to kill Goliath (cf. 1 Samuel 17:46), as had Saul in describing how he would kill David with his spear (cf. 1 Samuel 18:11).
David believed, however, that since God had anointed Saul it was not his place to do him harm (1 Samuel 26:9; cf. 1 Samuel 24:6-7). His reply to Abishai begins (1 Samuel 26:9) and ends (1 Samuel 26:11) with the reason David would not permit Abishai to kill Saul: he was the Lord's anointed. In the middle of this reply, David mentioned alternative ways by which God might terminate Saul's life (1 Samuel 26:10). He might die from some physical affliction, as Nabal had (cf. 1 Samuel 25:38), or of natural causes, or in battle (cf. ch. 31). David reminded Abishai that God could deal with Saul without their help.
David's reason for entering Saul's camp was not to kill him but to teach him a lesson. By taking Saul's spear, David would teach the king that he had the power of death, but chose to spare Saul's life rather than take it. This symbolic act also communicated that the right to rule would be David's eventually. By taking his water jug, a life-giving vessel since life in the Judean wilderness depended on drinking water, David taught him that he had the power to take Saul's life. Perhaps the jug of water also symbolized that refreshment and blessing would also be David's portion from the Lord. It was really the Lord who defended David by making Saul and all of his men sleep soundly (1 Samuel 26:12).
4. David's rebuke of Abner 26:13-16
David crossed a ravine to put some distance between himself and Saul. David addressed Abner because he was responsible for leaving the Lord's anointed unprotected. The person who came to destroy Saul was Abishai (1 Samuel 26:15; cf. 1 Samuel 26:8). David, rather than Saul's bodyguard Abner, was responsible for sparing his life. Abner deserved to die for his failure in duty, but David spared his life too. David more faithfully defended Saul's life than even Saul's most trusted servant.
5. David's appeal to Saul 26:17-20
Evidently the realization that David or Abishai again could have killed him but did not, led Saul to respond to David tenderly, calling him his son (1 Sam 26:17; cf. 1 Sam 26:21; 1 Sam 26:25). Indeed, David had behaved as a loyal son toward Saul. David, however, did not now address Saul as his father, as he had previously (cf. 1 Sam 24:11). He had come to view Saul less affectionately since he continued to hound David without cause after repeated promises to stop doing so. Moreover Saul was no longer David's father-in-law.
David said that if violation of the Mosaic Law had prompted Saul to hunt him down, he was ready to offer the sacrifice the Law prescribed to atone for it (1 Samuel 26:19). However, if David's enemies had stirred up Saul's hostility without cause, David prayed that God would judge them for that. Saul's attacks had resulted in David's separation from the Lord's inheritance (i.e., the blessings God had given Israel, especially rest in the Promised Land) since he had to live as a fugitive. David's enemies had in effect encouraged him to abandon Yahweh by driving him out of his home territory (1 Samuel 26:19). The common conception in the ancient Near East was that gods ruled areas. Evidently some people were saying that because David had departed from his area the Lord would not protect him. David appeared to be seeking the protection of other gods by living in areas that they supposedly controlled (e.g., Philistia and Moab). This looked like David was violating the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). Nevertheless David wanted to live and die in the center of God's will and presence (1 Samuel 26:20).
David again compared himself to a mere flea, essentially harmless but annoying to Saul (1 Samuel 26:20; cf. 1 Samuel 24:14). He was making a word play on Abner's question, "Who are you who calls (Heb. qarata) to the king?" (1 Samuel 26:14) by referring to himself as a "partridge" (1 Samuel 26:20, Heb. haqqore, lit. caller-bird). The partridge darts from one bush to another when a hunter pursues it, as David had been doing, though it tires fairly quickly and then can be caught easily. [Note: Youngblood, "1, 2 Samuel," p. 771.] David's point in comparing himself to a partridge and a flea was that Saul's search for such an insignificant person as David was beneath the king's dignity.
6. David's trust in God 26:21-25 - Lesson Verses
Saul again confessed that he had sinned, as he had done when he had sacrificed at Gilgal (1 Samuel 26:21; cf. 1 Samuel 15:24; cf. 1 Samuel 15:30) and when David had spared his life in the cave (1 Samuel 24:17). Nevertheless he seems to have failed again to follow through with genuine repentance (cf. 1 Samuel 27:1). He also admitted that he had played the fool (similar to Nabal) and had committed a serious error. Contrast Paul's testimony in 2 Timothy 4:7. The writer did not record Saul as having gone this far in admitting his faults in the preceding chapters. Even though Saul's words went further in confession, his behavior continued unchanged
David returned Saul's spear to him (1 Samuel 26:22), the symbol of the right to rule. Perhaps David did not return the jug of water to remind Saul that he still had the power to end Saul's life. He felt confident that God would repay each of them eventually, and he determined to wait for Him to do so (1 Samuel 26:23). David acknowledged that Yahweh was his real deliverer (1 Samuel 26:24). This may have been the occasion when David composed Psalms 54 (see its title) the last verse of which ascribes David's deliverance from his enemies to Yahweh. Saul could have overwhelmed David's smaller band of followers. Instead he departed with a prophetic declaration of David's final success (1 Samuel 26:25; cf. 1 Samuel 24:20). The text does not record another meeting of David and Saul before Saul died.
The main lesson of chapter 26 appears in 1 Samuel 26:23: "the Lord will repay" (cf. Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 24:29; Romans 12:17; Romans 12:19). The Lord Jesus Christ is our greatest example of one who trusted the Father to vindicate Him (cf. Luke 23:46). Our vindication does not always come in this lifetime, as David's did. Sometimes it comes after death, as Jesus' did. Another great revelation is God's patience with Saul. God gave him many opportunities to repent and to experience God's blessing within the sphere of his judgment (cf. 1 Samuel 15:26), but Saul did not repent.
David had borne witness twice to Saul's guilt before God (chs. 24 and 26; cf. Numbers 35:30). God proceeded to put him to death not long after this (ch. 31). David became God's instrument in passing judgment on Saul for his sin and so became a blessing to all Israel.
1 Sam. 26:7-12, 21-25 - EW Commentary
A. David's second opportunity to kill Saul.
2. (1 Sam. 26:7-8) David's could have killed Saul.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not [e]do it to him a second time."
a. So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped: The last time David and Saul met, David was simply hiding from Saul, and Saul happened upon the place where David hid. This time, David actively seeks Saul out.
i. So David arose means that David himself went. He could have sent any of his 600 men to do this job, and from a military sense, it made more sense to send someone else. Why should David take on such a dangerous mission? The fact that David did this shows his boldness and courage; the outcome of it all shows God was leading him in it.
c. David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army: As the entire army sleeps, Saul sleeps near the commander of his army. Then David, with a trusted assistant (Abishai the son of Zeruiah), secretly creeps down to where Saul and Abner sleep. With Saul's spear stuck in the ground by his head, and all asleep, Saul is completely vulnerable.
d. Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day": Here, David receives the same advice as on the previous occasion he had to kill Saul (1 Samuel 24:4). Each time, David's associates pointed out that this circumstance was not an accident, God designed it - and the design was for David to take righteous vengeance upon Saul.
i. Abishai even makes it easy for David: Please let me strike at once with the spear. David would not raise his hand against Saul; Abishai would do it, and not feel bad about it in the slightest way. David could say to himself and everyone else, "I did not kill Saul."
ii. Abishai also weaves into the matter an element of poetic justice: the spear used to kill Saul would be the king's own spear, stuck in the ground by his head. The spear that was thrown at David in attempted murder before (1 Samuel 18:10-11 and 19:9-10), would now be used as the instrument of the LORD's righteous judgment! It all might have seemed to be perfectly given from the hand of God!
3. (1 Sam. 26:9-12) David's response to the opportunity to kill Saul.
9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not kill him, for who can reach out with his hand against the LORD'S anointed and remain innocent?" 10 David also said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD certainly will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down in battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let's go." 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul's head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
a. Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless: It wasn't that David thought Saul was right. David knew more than anyone that Saul was deeply in sin. But David knew that even a sinning Saul was still the anointed king over Israel (1 Samuel 10:1). That would only change when God changed it; David would not stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed. He knew he would be guilty before God if he did.
i. We might think that at this time, David had more righteous reason than ever to kill Saul. Now, Saul had gone back on a previous promise to leave David alone. Many of us, if we were in David's position, would have said "I showed love and let him off once before. I'm full of love, but I'm not stupid. Saul had his chance and he blew it; this time, this opportunity is from God!"
ii. But love, at least in the eyes of the world, will sometimes act in what the world considers to be a stupid way. Jesus said that we should forgive, and forgive, and forgive again (Matthew 18:21-22).
iii. In addition, Saul's sin against David did not make him less the anointed king of Israel. Though this was a trial that required supernatural endurance and love from David, it still would have been sin for him to kill Saul.
iv. "Though Saul be a cruel tyrant, and rejected by God, yet he is our sovereign lord and king; and I, though designed king, as yet am but a private person, and his subject; and therefore cannot kill him without sin, nor will I consent that you shouldst do it." (Poole)
b. The LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish: David knew that it wasn't "hard" for God to kill Saul. The LORD was more than able to kill Saul at any time He chose. Every breath Saul took was a gift from God. God could have allowed any wicked man to kill Saul at any time. When it came to striking down an anointed king of Israel, God did not need the services of a godly, righteous man like David!
i. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord (Romans 12:17-21). If vengeance belongs to God, it does not belong to us, so we are to love our enemies and never repay evil with evil.
ii. We might even say that since Saul deserved it, it was the "right thing" to kill Saul. But if it was the "right thing," this was the "wrong way." Often when we have a right thing in front of us, we will be tempted to pursue it in a wrong way.
iii. David's ultimate Son, Jesus, showed us how to refuse to pursue the right thing the wrong way. Jesus rejected Satan's shortcut to the cross (Luke 4:5-8). Jesus never did miracles just to promote Himself (John 6:30-33). Jesus went the way of the cross instead. Jesus shows us that God's way may be more difficult - but it is always better.
iv. David knew to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Our job is to seek first the kingdom of God, and He will bring things to pass as we do.
c. David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head: David would not kill Saul, but he did take the spear and the jug of water as evidence that he had the opportunity to kill Saul. Probably, David noticed that a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them all, and knew there was a reason for it.
3. (1 Sam. 26:21) Saul apologizes to David.
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake."
a. I have sinned: The last time Saul was in this situation, he was overcome with emotion. His feelings seemed right, but his life was not changed (1 Samuel 24:16-21). This time, there is something cold and mechanical about Saul's words. It feels that the words are right, but this time, the feelings aren't even there.
i. On another occasion, Saul "repented" with the right words but no depth of heart. In 1 Samuel 15:24-25 and 15:30, Saul said the words, "I have sinned," yet he was still far more concerned about his image before the people than the condition of his heart and life before God.
ii. Sometimes we know the right words to say - we know what sound spiritual and right - but our hearts really aren't there. When we sense this in others, we are to love them, deciding to think the best and forgive them (as Jesus described in Luke 17:3-4). When we sense this in ourselves, we should be honest, then pray mightily that our heart would come into the same right place as our words!
iii. "Good motions that fall into wicked hearts, are like some sparks that fall from the flint and steel into wet tinder; lightsome for the time, but soon out." (Trapp)
b. For I will harm you no more ... Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly: This is a time when we really wish we could see and hear what happened, so we can see the expression on Saul's face, and the tone and intonation of his words. It seems - both from the "feel" of the verse and Saul's subsequent actions - that Saul isn't repentant; rather, he simply has a bitter realization that David has got the better of him once again. His words in 1 Samuel 26:25 express this also: You shall both do great things and also still prevail.
i. "The Apostle makes a great distinction, and rightly, between the sorrow of the world and the sorrow of a godly repentance which needeth not to be repented of. Certainly Saul's confession of sin belonged to the former; while the cry of the latter comes out in Psalm 51, extorted from David by the crimes after the years."
c. Morgan on I have played the fool: "In these words we have a perfect autobiography. In them the complete life-story of this man is told... There had been given to him the Spirit of God, the friendship of Samuel, and the devotion of men whose hearts God had touched. He had so acted that the Spirit departed from him; Samuel had been unable to help him; and the hearts of the people had been turned away from him. The whole secret was that he had leaned to his own understanding, had failed to obey, and so had become the evil-tempered man he was, mastered by hatred, and fighting against God."
4. (1 Sam. 26:22-25) David explains to Saul why he did not kill him.
22 David replied, "Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD handed you over to me today, but I refused to reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He rescue me from all distress." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
a. May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness: David trusts in the God who blesses the righteous and the faithful. David knew the truth of Hebrews 6:10 before it was written: For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name.
i. David understood the principle Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:2: With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. David wanted the "extra big scoop" of God's mercy given for himself, so David gave Saul the "extra big scoop" of mercy. That generous measure of mercy will be a great blessing to David later in his life.
b. So let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD: David wanted to fulfill his calling, to be the next king of Israel. But he wanted both the throne and the blessing of God. He refused to take the throne through murder or rebellion. He would wait until it came to him God's way. In this, David trusted that God would protect him when he did eventually come to reign over Israel.
i. David knew that if he wanted God's support when he became king, he must support Saul now.
ii. David held on to this principle, and when he became king, he recognized that his righteousness was rewarded. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks. (Psalm 18:20-27)
c. David went on his way: Saul invited David to return (1 Samuel 26:21), but David did not take the invitation. He would wait and see if the repentant words Saul spoke showed a genuine repentance in his life. But as David goes on his way, he is faced with the temptation he spoke of in 1 Samuel 26:19 - the temptation to flee Israel all together and live among the ungodly.
i. "Knowing Saul's unstable and deceitful heart, he would not trust to any of his professions or promises, but kept out of his reach." (Poole)
ii. "Since now there is nothing more to be said, David and Saul part, never to see each other again."
1 Sam. 26:7-12, 21-25 - Pulpit Commentary
vv 7, 8: 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not do it to him a second time." - The two accordingly go by night, or "at night," as soon as night came on, and find Saul asleep within the trench, i.e. inside the wagon rampart, as in ver. 5, and his spear, the sign of his royal authority, stuck in the ground; not at his bolster, but "at his head; and so in vers. 11, 12, 16. The word literally signifies "the place where the head is." Like David's men in 1 Samuel 24:4, Abishai sees in Saul's defenceless condition a proof that it was God's will that he should die, but there is a difference of language in the Hebrew which the A.V. does not represent. There the word rendered deliver is really give; here it is "hath locked up." At once. Hebrew, "once." Abishai would pierce him through with a single stroke so thoroughly that no second blow would be necessary. The purpose of this would be to prevent an outcry.
vv. 9-11: 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not kill him, for who can reach out with his hand against the LORD'S anointed and remain innocent?" 10 David also said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD certainly will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down in battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let's go." - David forbids the deed as before (1 Samuel 24:6), because of Saul's office. As we there saw, this was an ingrained principle in David's mind on which he constantly acted. Present with equal strength in Saul's mind, it was the cause of moral ruin to the one, and of a noble forbearance and self-control to the other. David therefore leaves him in Jehovah's hand, saying, As Jehovah liveth, Jehovah shall smite him; or his day, etc. Literally, "As Jehovah liveth (I will not smite him), but Jehovah shall smite him; either his day shall come and he shall die; or he shall go down into battle and perish." Whenever he falls, it shall be Jehovah's doing, whether he die a natural death, or a violent one in battle. "The smiting of Jehovah" does not imply a sudden death. God smites men with disease (2 Kings 15:5) and other troubles. What David means is that he will leave the matter entirely to God, but that if Saul's death is to be a violent one, he must fall honourably, not by the hand of a subject, but in battle with Israel's enemies. Jehovah forbid. The same phrase as in 1 Samuel 24:6. Cruse of water. i.e. water bottle, as in 1 Kings 19:6.
v. 12: 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul's head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. - And no man saw it, etc. The Hebrew text describes the occurrence in a much more lively manner: "And none saw, and none knew, and none awaked." A deep sleep from Jehovah, etc. So surprising a fact as that two men could penetrate into the very centre of a considerable army, and remove the king's sceptre and water bottle from his side, could only be accounted for by the interference of Providence in their behalf.
v. 21: 21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake."- I have sinned. Saul's answer here is very different from that in 1 Samuel 24:17-21, where the main idea was wonder that David should with such magnanimity spare the life of an enemy so manifestly delivered into his hand. Here a sense of vexation seems uppermost, and of annoyance, not merely because his purpose was frustrated, but because his own military arrangements had been so unsoldierlike. I have played the fool. His first enterprise had ended in placing his life in David's power, and it was folly indeed a second time to repeat the attempt. But though the words of Saul convey the idea rather of vexation with himself than of sorrow for his maliciousness, yet in one point there is a sign of better things. He bids David return, evidently with reference to the grief expressed with such genuine feeling by David at being driven away from Jehovah's land. It was of course impossible, as Saul had given David's wife to another, and David had himself married two other women, but at least it expressed a right and kindly feeling.
vv. 22-24: 22 David replied, "Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And the LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD handed you over to me today, but I refused to reach out with my hand against the LORD'S anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He rescue me from all distress."- Behold the king's spear. Rather, "Behold the spear, O king." The other is an unnecessary correction of the Kri. Having restored to Saul this ensign of his authority, David prays that Jehovah may render to every man his righteousness, i.e. may requite David for his upright conduct towards Saul, and by implication punish Saul himself for his unjust conduct. And also his faithfulness, his fidelity, and steady allegiance. This refers exclusively to David, who gives as proof of his faithfulness to his king that he had spared his life when it was delivered into his power. In return for which act God, he affirms, will protect his life. Ver. 24 would be better translated, "And behold, as thy life was great (in value) in my sight this day, so shall my life be great (in value) in the sight of Jehovah, and he shall deliver me out of every strait," every narrowness and difficulty into which Saul's persecution might drive him.
v 25: - 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail."- So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.Thou shalt both do, etc. Better, "Thou shalt both do mightily, and thou shalt surely prevail." The words are very general as compared with those in 1 Samuel 24:20, 21, where Saul expressed his conviction that David Would be king, and intrusted his family to his care. The poverty of sentiment here, and the mere vexation expressed in ver. 21, justify Keil's remark that Saul's character had deteriorated in the interval, and that he was more hardened now than on the previous occasion. And so they parted - David still leading the life of a fugitive, for Saul's return in ver. 21 was the most evanescent of good purposes, while the king went back to his place, his home at Gibeah.
1 Sam. 26:7-12, 21-25 - Extra Commentary
1 Samuel 26:7 "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."
"Saul" regularly kept his "spear stuck in the ground" by his head (compare 18:10-11; 19:10; 20:33), which symbolized his royal authority. "David" first took the king's spear, and then returned it (verses 12, 22), in deference to the will of God (compare verses 23-24). Once again, he respected duly established government (Rom. 13:1; Eph. 6:5-8), and spared the king's life (see the note on 24:4-6).
We see that David waited until they were asleep. He and Abishai slipped by those posted to watch, and even slipped through the circle of men surrounding Saul. This spear, near the head of Saul, was the emblem of his authority. This trench he was in should have given some protection as well. It is as if the LORD has caused them to be in a deep sleep.
1 Samuel 26:8 "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."
Seeing Saul was fast asleep and a spear so near him.
God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day": Or at this time; probably it was night.
"Now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear": With Saul's own spear, which was stuck in the ground at his bolster. He remembered that David would not put forth his hand to stay him before, when he had an opportunity. Since now another occurred, he did not move it to him to do it, but begged leave to do it himself. Which he might think would be granted, since there was such a remarkable hand of Providence in it, which seemed to direct to such a step.
"Even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time": Signifying, that he would give such a fatal blow or thrust, that the spear should pierce through him, and fasten him to the ground, that there would be no need to repeat it.
Abishai thought that the LORD had set this up so they could kill Saul and leave. He says to David, "If you do not want to kill him, let me do it". Abishai thinks with one blow from the spear, he can kill Saul and they can get away. The mention of the one blow is explaining he would not even have to wake the others, when he kills Saul.
1 Samuel 26:9 "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?"
"The Lord's anointed" (see note on 24:6).
David was taught, no doubt, by the prophet Samuel and looked upon the person of Saul as made sacred and inviolable by the royal anointing. Through the anointing Saul had become the possession of Jehovah so only Jehovah, could lawfully take away that sacred life. This he elaborates in the next verse. It is possible that these exalted sentiments respecting the Divine rights of kings were not uttered by David while standing in the dark night among Saul's soldiers by the sleeping king, but subsequently, when he and Abishai were talking the incident over together.
Again, David refuses to kill Saul. He has respect for the office of king, because Saul was ordained of God for that position. He is saying, the men might not punish you, but you would be guilty before God.
1 Samuel 26:10 "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."
"As the Lord liveth": An oath usually associated with life-or-death matters. The sovereign God would decide when, where, and how Saul would perish, not David.
David is depending upon the LORD to kill him as He did Nabal. David expresses, that under no circumstances, will he kill Saul. He is leaving that entirely up to God. He may die of old age or he may die in battle, but it is up to God when he dies.
1 Samuel 26:11 "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."
The Oriental spear had, and still has, a spike at the lower extremity, intended for the purpose of sticking the spear into the ground when the warrior is at rest. This common custom of Arab sheiks was also the practice of the Hebrew chiefs.
"At his bolster": Literally, "at his head". Perhaps Saul as a sovereign had the distinguished luxury of a bolster carried for him. A "cruse of water" is usually, in warm climates, kept near a person's couch, as a drink in the night time is found very refreshing. Saul's cruse would probably be of superior materials, or more richly ornamented than common ones, and therefore by its size or form could be easily distinguished.
1 Samuel 26:12 "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."
"The spear and the cruse of water": Like the corner of Saul's robe (24:4), these were taken as proof that David had Saul's life in his hand (verse 16).
"A deep sleep from the Lord": As with Adam (in Gen. 2:21 and Abraham in Gen. 15:12), the Lord caused Saul to be unaware of what was taking place around him.
We remember the spear was right by Saul's head. We must also, realize the spear was a symbol of Saul's authority. It is as if they have stripped him of his authority. The sleep, as we said before, was a deep sleep from the LORD that had fallen on them all. This was the LORD's way of showing that Saul's authority has been removed.
1 Samuel 26:21 "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."
"I have sinned" (as in 24:17), Saul confessed his sin and wrongdoing. Although Saul may have been sincere, he
could not be trusted and David wisely did not accept his invitation to return with him.
"I have played the fool": Saul had been foolish in his actions toward David, as had Nabal.
Even though Saul acknowledged his sin in hunting down David (as in 24:17), David feared for his life (27:1). Saul was so consumed with keeping the throne that he lost touch with reality.
The return of David, at this point, would have been an impossibility, because of the women involved. David had taken two wives and Saul had torn Michal away and given her to another to wife. Saul's promises are not to be trusted either. He had sworn with an oath before the LORD before, and yet he came against David again. At the moment he might feel remorse, but his jealousy causes these outbursts against David. This is probably not true repentance on Saul's part, but an admission of their bungling their attempt to kill David.
1 Samuel 26:22 "And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it."
And which perhaps was his scepter, which David therefore would not keep, lest it should be thought or said that he had deprived him of an ensign of his royalty, and be interpreted as a token of his design to seize his crown and throne.
"And let one of the young men come over and fetch it": Notwithstanding the acknowledgment Saul had made of his sin and folly, David did not choose to carry the spear to him. Not caring to trust him, and put himself into his hands, lest the evil spirit should return and come upon him suddenly, and alter his disposition and carriage. Or would he send any of his men with it, whose lives were dear to him, lest they should be seized as traitors, but desires one of Saul's men might be sent for it.
The exciting thing here is the authority of the king was in David's hand. He allows this emblem of authority to be returned to Saul. It is as if it is by David's permission that Saul's authority is restored. This really shows that the true power and authority are in David's hand.
1 Samuel 26:23 "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."
Or recompense every man that deals justly and faithfully with others, as he had done with Saul. Or the Lord, who is just and faithful to his promises, reward the men that act the good and upright part; and this was a prayer of faith; for David doubted not that, though Saul might fail, yet God could not.
For the Lord delivered thee into my hand this day; or "into a hand" into the hand of Abishai, who had it in his power to slay him, when he went and took the spear that was at his bolster, and would have done it, but David suffered him not.
"But I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed; nor suffer another to stretch forth his hand against him; so careful and tender was he of his life.
Righteousness" is a gift from God. It means the person is in right standing with the LORD. David recognizes that his power, strength, righteousness, and faithfulness are of the LORD. It is the LORD who delivered Saul into the hands of David. In the end, it is the LORD who is the judge. He it is that brings one down and lifts another up. David would not lift his hand against Saul in respect for the office that the LORD had anointed Saul to. David has tremendous respect for the LORD.
1 Samuel 26:24 "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."
Or "magnified"; and made great account of, as being the life of the king of Israel, and the Lord's anointed, and so spared.
"So let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord": He does not say in the eyes of Saul, as it should have been by way of retaliation, and as it might have been expected he would have said. But he had no dependence on Saul, nor expected justice to be done him by him. But he prays that his life might be precious in the sight of Lord, and taken care of, and protected by him, as he believed it would.
"And let him deliver me out of all tribulation": For as yet he did not think himself quite out of it, notwithstanding all that Saul had said. But believed the Lord would deliver him in due time; from him alone he looked for it, and on him he depended.
David realizes the divine protection of his life by the LORD. David had not harmed Saul, because of his spiritual conviction. David asks the LORD for even more divine protection, because of his spiritual convictions. David places his safety in the hands of the LORD. It is the LORD who is the Deliverer of us all.
1 Samuel 26:25 "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."
"Still prevail": Saul recognized the certain success of David's future as Israel's king (24:20).
It is interesting to me, that even though Saul says all of these wonderful things, the spirit within David will not allow him to place himself in the hands of Saul. Saul does, in a sense, speak a blessing on David. He does not really keep his word however. Saul is totally consumed by the evil spirit. His heart would still desire to be rid of David so he and his family could remain king.
