The Ziphites betray David’s hiding place a second time, and Saul comes down with three thousand men. That night David and Abishai walk straight into the sleeping camp and stand over Saul — his spear stuck in the ground by his head, a jug of water beside it. Abishai begs to strike. David takes the spear and the jug and leaves, and shouts across the valley at dawn: who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?
A study in 1 Samuel 26 · Arthur Baldwin · StandUp4Jesus.Org · 8 min read
Saul Lay Sleeping Within The Trench
“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.”
1 Samuel 26:7
This is the second time God has laid Saul defenceless at David’s feet — first a cave, now a whole army asleep, the king ringed by his own guard and none of them stirring. The test is exactly the same as before, and David’s men draw exactly the wrong lesson from it again.
Destroy Him Not
“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 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.”
1 Samuel 26:9-11
Abishai’s logic is tidy and godless: God delivered him, so it must be God’s will, so let me do it. David answers with the fear of God — the LORD will deal with Saul in the LORD’s own time, by natural death or in battle, but not by David’s hand. He takes the spear and the water jug as proof he was there, and touches nothing else.
“Hidden by the deep shadows of the hills, David and his attendant entered the encampment of the enemy… How easily the Lord can weaken the strongest, remove prudence from the wisest, and baffle the skill of the most watchful!”
Ellen G. White · Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 668
A Deep Sleep From The LORD
“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.”
1 Samuel 26:12
The whole camp — trained soldiers, a king, his general — sleeps through two men walking among them. God’s protection of David does not depend on David’s cleverness. It is the same hand that will one day set him on the throne; he simply refuses to grab early what God has promised to give in full.
The LORD Render To Every Man His Righteousness
“Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David… behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly… 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.”
1 Samuel 26:21-23
“I have played the fool” is very nearly the most honest thing Saul ever says. But it is the same confession as chapter 24, and it will bear the same fruit — none. David has stopped expecting anything else. He calls back across the ravine for a young man to come and fetch the king’s spear, and the two part for the last time. David does not go home with him. He has learned what Saul’s remorse is worth.
“The second instance of David’s respect for his sovereign’s life made a still deeper impression upon the mind of Saul and brought from him a more humble acknowledgment of his fault… But the son of Jesse had no hope that the king would long continue in this frame of mind.”
Ellen G. White · Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 671
