Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. English Standard Version So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Berean Standard Bible That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. New American Standard Bible 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. NASB 1995 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. NASB 1977 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. Legacy Standard Bible 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. Amplified Bible So David and Abishai went to the army during the night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. Christian Standard Bible That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. Holman Christian Standard Bible That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. American Standard Version So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him. Contemporary English Version That same night, David and Abishai crept into the camp. Saul was sleeping, and his spear was stuck in the ground not far from his head. Abner and the soldiers were sound asleep all around him. English Revised Version So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head: and Abner and the people lay round about him. GOD'S WORD® Translation So David and Abishai went among [Saul's] troops that night. Saul was lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Good News Translation So that night David and Abishai entered Saul's camp and found Saul sleeping in the center of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were sleeping around him. International Standard Version David and Abishai went to the army at night, and Saul was lying there asleep in the encampment. His spear was stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army were lying all around him. Majority Standard Bible That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. NET Bible So David and Abishai approached the army at night and found Saul lying asleep in the entrenchment with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the army were lying all around him. New Heart English Bible So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, look, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him. Webster's Bible Translation 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 about him. World English Bible So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd David comes—and Abishai—by night to the people, and behold, Saul is lying sleeping in the path, and his spear is pressed into the earth by his pillow, and Abner and the people are lying around him. Young's Literal Translation And David cometh -- and Abishai -- unto the people by night, and lo, Saul is lying sleeping in the path, and his spear struck into the earth at his pillow, and abner and the people are lying round about him. Smith's Literal Translation And David will come, and Abishai, to the people by night; and behold, Saul lay sleeping in the track, and his spear pressed into the earth at his head: and Abner and the people sleeping round about him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo David and Abisai came to the people by night, and found Saul lying and sleeping in the tent, and his spear fixed in the ground at his head: and Abner and the people sleeping round about him. Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, David and Abishai went to the people by night, and they found Saul lying down and sleeping in the tent, with his spear fixed in the ground at his head. And Abner and the people were sleeping all around him. New American Bible So David and Abishai reached Saul’s soldiers by night, and there was Saul lying asleep within the camp, his spear thrust into the ground at his head and Abner and his troops sleeping around him. New Revised Standard Version So David and Abishai went to the army by night; there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay asleep in the path, with his spear lying on the ground by his bedside; and Abner and the people lay round about him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David and Abishi came to the people in the night, and behold, Shaul slept in the road, and his scepter spear was lying on the ground beside him, and Abnir and people were sleeping around him OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the barricade, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him. Brenton Septuagint Translation So David and Abessa go in among the people by night: and behold, Saul was fast asleep in the chariot, and his spear was stuck in the ground near his head, and Abenner and his people slept round about him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David Again Spares Saul…6And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai. 7That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”… Cross References 1 Samuel 24:3-4 Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. / So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 1 Samuel 23:19-20 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? / Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.” 1 Samuel 13:11-12 “What have you done?” Samuel asked. And Saul replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, / I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47 But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. / And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” 2 Samuel 2:22-23 Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?” / But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. 2 Samuel 16:9-10 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!” / But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’” 2 Kings 6:14-17 the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city. / When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” / “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ... Psalm 54:3-4 For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah / Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. Psalm 57:1-3 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed. / I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. / He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth. Psalm 63:9-11 But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth. / They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes. / But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut. Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 26:52-54 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. / Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? / But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Luke 6:27-28 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 22:49-51 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” / And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. / But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him. Romans 12:19-21 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Treasury of Scripture 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. sleeping 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night… Jump to Previous Abishai Abi'shai Abner Asleep Barricade Bolster Camp Carts Circle David Earth Head Inside Lay Night Planted Ring Round Saul Sleeping Spear Stuck Trench Wagons WithinJump to Next Abishai Abi'shai Abner Asleep Barricade Bolster Camp Carts Circle David Earth Head Inside Lay Night Planted Ring Round Saul Sleeping Spear Stuck Trench Wagons Within1 Samuel 26 1. Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David4. David coming into the trench keeps Abishai from killing Saul, 11. but takes his spear and jug 13. David reproves Abner 17. and exhorts Saul 21. Saul acknowledges his sin So David and Abishai went down This phrase highlights the courage and determination of David and his loyal companion, Abishai. The Hebrew root for "went down" (יָרַד, yarad) often implies a descent into a place of danger or humility. In this context, it signifies their willingness to enter a perilous situation, reflecting David's trust in God's protection and guidance. Historically, this act of descending into the enemy's camp underscores David's strategic acumen and his reliance on divine wisdom rather than human strength. to the troops by night and found Saul lying there asleep in the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head Abner and the troops were lying around him His spear . . . at his bolster.--"Bolster," literally, the place where his head is, better rendered at his head; and so in 1Samuel 26:11-12; 1Samuel 26:16. The same Hebrew word occurs in the narration of Jacob's dream (Genesis 28:11); it is there rendered in our English Version, "his pillows." It was the tall spear which ever seems to have been in Saul's hand, or placed close to him. We read of it in battle in his hand, and in the council chamber and at the state banquet it was within his reach, and now it was evidently reared upright beside the sleeping king. "I noticed at all the encampments which we passed that the sheik's tent was distinguished from the rest by a tall spear stuck upright in the ground in front of it; and it is the custom when a party set out on an excursion for robbery or for war, that when they halt to rest the spot where the chief reclines or rests is thus designated"--Thomson, Land and the Book. Verses 7, 8. - 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.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew That nightלַיְלָה֒ (lay·lāh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity David דָוִ֨ד (ḏā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse and Abishai וַאֲבִישַׁ֥י ׀ (wa·’ă·ḇî·šay) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 52: Abishai -- 'my father is Jesse', an Israelite name came וַיָּבֹא֩ (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the troops, הָעָם֮ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock and Saul שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites was lying שֹׁכֵ֤ב (šō·ḵêḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down there וְהִנֵּ֣ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! asleep יָשֵׁן֙ (yā·šên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3463: Sleeping in the inner circle of the camp, בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל (bam·ma‘·gāl) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track with his spear וַחֲנִית֥וֹ (wa·ḥă·nî·ṯōw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2595: A lance stuck מְעוּכָֽה־ (mə·‘ū·ḵāh-) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular Strong's 4600: To press, to pierce, emasculate, handle in the ground בָאָ֖רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land by his head. מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו (mə·ra·’ă·šō·ṯāw) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4763: A place at the head, head place And Abner וְאַבְנֵ֣ר (wə·’aḇ·nêr) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 74: Abner -- 'my father is a lamp', an Israelite name and the troops וְהָעָ֔ם (wə·hā·‘ām) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock were lying שֹׁכְבִ֖ים (šō·ḵə·ḇîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7901: To lie down around him. סְבִיבֹתָֽיו׃ (sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯāw) Adverb | third person masculine singular Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around Links 1 Samuel 26:7 NIV1 Samuel 26:7 NLT 1 Samuel 26:7 ESV 1 Samuel 26:7 NASB 1 Samuel 26:7 KJV 1 Samuel 26:7 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 26:7 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 26:7 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 26:7 French Bible 1 Samuel 26:7 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai came to (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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