Saul Tries to Kill David
(Psalm 59:1–17)

1  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And spoke) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) יוֹנָתָ֤ן (Jonathan) בְּנוֹ֙ (his son) וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) עֲבָדָ֔יו (his servants), לְהָמִ֖ית (that they should kill) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֑ד (David).

וִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙ (And Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul) חָפֵ֥ץ (delighted) בְּדָוִ֖ד (in David) מְאֹֽד׃ (greatly). 2  וַיַּגֵּ֤ד (And told) יְהוֹנָתָן֙ (Jonathan) לְדָוִ֣ד (David), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מְבַקֵּ֛שׁ (Seeks) שָׁא֥וּל (Saul) אָבִ֖י (My father) לַהֲמִיתֶ֑ךָ (to kill you). וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) הִשָּֽׁמֶר־ (be on your guard) נָ֣א (please) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (until the morning), וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ (and stay) בַסֵּ֖תֶר (in a secret place) וְנַחְבֵּֽאתָ׃ (and hide yourself). 3  וַאֲנִ֨י (And I) אֵצֵ֜א (will go out) וְעָמַדְתִּ֣י (and stand) לְיַד־ (beside) אָבִ֗י (my father) בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ (in the field) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) אַתָּ֣ה (you are) שָׁ֔ם (there), וַאֲנִ֕י (and I) אֲדַבֵּ֥ר (will speak) בְּךָ֖ (about you) אֶל־ (with) אָבִ֑י (my father). וְרָאִ֥יתִי (And I will observe) מָ֖ה (what it is), וְהִגַּ֥דְתִּי (and I will tell) לָֽךְ׃ס (you).

4  וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (And spoke) יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן (Jonathan) בְּדָוִד֙ (of David) ט֔וֹב (well) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אָבִ֑יו (his father), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵ֠לָיו (to him), אַל־ (Not) יֶחֱטָ֨א (let sin) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) בְּעַבְדּ֣וֹ (against his servant), בְדָוִ֗ד (against David), כִּ֣י (because) ל֤וֹא (not) חָטָא֙ (he has sinned) לָ֔ךְ (against you), וְכִ֥י (and because) מַעֲשָׂ֖יו (his works are) טוֹב־ (good) לְךָ֥ (toward you) מְאֹֽד׃ (very). 5  וַיָּשֶׂם֩ (And for he took) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשׁ֨וֹ (his life) בְכַפּ֜וֹ (in his hands) וַיַּ֣ךְ (and killed) אֶת־ (-) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י (the Philistine), וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (and brought about) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) תְּשׁוּעָ֤ה (a deliverance) גְדוֹלָה֙ (great) לְכָל־ (for all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel). רָאִ֖יתָ (You saw it) וַתִּשְׂמָ֑ח (and rejoiced); וְלָ֤מָּה (and why) תֶֽחֱטָא֙ (would you sin) בְּדָ֣ם (against blood) נָקִ֔י (innocent) לְהָמִ֥ית (to kill) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (David) חִנָּֽם׃ (for nothing)?

6  וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע (And listened) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן (of Jonathan), וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע (and swore) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), אִם־ (not) יוּמָֽת׃ (he shall be killed).

7  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And called) יְהוֹנָתָן֙ (Jonathan) לְדָוִ֔ד (David), וַיַּגֶּד־ (and told) לוֹ֙ (him) יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (Jonathan) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the things) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these). וַיָּבֵ֨א (And brought) יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן (Jonathan) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַיְהִ֥י (and he was) לְפָנָ֖יו (before his face), כְּאֶתְמ֥וֹל (as before) שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ס (heretofore).

8  וַתּ֥וֹסֶף (And it added) הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (war) לִֽהְי֑וֹת (to be), וַיֵּצֵ֨א (and went out) דָוִ֜ד (David) וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם (and fought) בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (with the Philistines), וַיַּ֤ךְ (and he struck) בָּהֶם֙ (them) מַכָּ֣ה (with a blow) גְדוֹלָ֔ה (mighty), וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ (and they fled) מִפָּנָֽיו׃ (from his face).

9  וַתְּהִי֩ (And came) ר֨וּחַ (a spirit) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (from YHWH) רָעָה֙ (of distress) אֶל־ (upon) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וְהוּא֙ (and he) בְּבֵית֣וֹ (in his house) יוֹשֵׁ֔ב (sat), וַחֲנִית֖וֹ (and his spear) בְּיָד֑וֹ (was in his hand), וְדָוִ֖ד (and David) מְנַגֵּ֥ן (was playing) בְּיָֽד׃ (by hand). 10  וַיְבַקֵּ֨שׁ (And sought) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) לְהַכּ֤וֹת (to strike) בַּֽחֲנִית֙ (with the spear) בְּדָוִ֣ד (David) וּבַקִּ֔יר (and into the wall), וַיִּפְטַר֙ (and he slipped away) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from the face) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), וַיַּ֥ךְ (and he drove) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲנִ֖ית (the spear) בַּקִּ֑יר (into the wall). וְדָוִ֛ד (And David) נָ֥ס (fled) וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט (and escaped) בַּלַּ֥יְלָה (in the night) הֽוּא׃פ (that).

11  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And sent) שָׁא֨וּל (Saul) מַלְאָכִ֜ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֤ית (house) דָּוִד֙ (of David) לְשָׁמְר֔וֹ (to watch him) וְלַהֲמִית֖וֹ (and to kill him) בַּבֹּ֑קֶר (in the morning). וַתַּגֵּ֣ד (And declared it) לְדָוִ֗ד (to David) מִיכַ֤ל (Michal) אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ (wife), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אִם־ (If) אֵ֨ינְךָ֜ (not) מְמַלֵּ֤ט (you do save) אֶֽת־ (-) נַפְשְׁךָ֙ (your life) הַלַּ֔יְלָה (tonight), מָחָ֖ר (tomorrow) אַתָּ֥ה (you) מוּמָֽת׃ (will be killed). 12  וַתֹּ֧רֶד (And let down) מִיכַ֛ל (Michal) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בְּעַ֣ד (through) הַחַלּ֑וֹן (a window), וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and he went) וַיִּבְרַ֖ח (and fled) וַיִּמָּלֵֽט׃ (and escaped).

13  וַתִּקַּ֨ח (And took) מִיכַ֜ל (Michal) אֶת־ (-) הַתְּרָפִ֗ים (the teraphim) וַתָּ֙שֶׂם֙ (and laid it) אֶל־ (in) הַמִּטָּ֔ה (the bed), וְאֵת֙ (and) כְּבִ֣יר (a cover) הָֽעִזִּ֔ים (of goats’ hair) שָׂ֖מָה (she put) מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו (for his head), וַתְּכַ֖ס (and covered it) בַּבָּֽגֶד׃ס (with clothing). 14  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And sent) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) מַלְאָכִ֖ים (messengers) לָקַ֣חַת (to take) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַתֹּ֖אמֶר (and she said), חֹלֶ֥ה (Is sick) הֽוּא׃פ (He).

15  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent back) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים (the messengers) לִרְא֥וֹת (to see) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (David), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הַעֲל֨וּ (Bring up) אֹת֧וֹ (him) בַמִּטָּ֛ה (in the bed) אֵלַ֖י (to me), לַהֲמִתֽוֹ׃ (that I may kill him). 16  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And had come in) הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים (the messengers), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and there was) הַתְּרָפִ֖ים (the teraphim) אֶל־ (in) הַמִּטָּ֑ה (the bed), וּכְבִ֥יר (and a cover) הָעִזִּ֖ים (of goats’ hair) מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ (for his head).

17  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) מִיכַ֗ל (Michal), לָ֤מָּה (Why) כָּ֙כָה֙ (like this) רִמִּיתִ֔נִי (have you deceived me) וַתְּשַׁלְּחִ֥י (and sent away) אֶת־ (-) אֹיְבִ֖י (my enemy), וַיִּמָּלֵ֑ט (so that he has escaped)?

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And answered) מִיכַל֙ (Michal) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), הוּא־ (He) אָמַ֥ר (said) אֵלַ֛י (to me) שַׁלְּחִ֖נִי (Let me go); לָמָ֥ה (why) אֲמִיתֵֽךְ׃ (should I kill you)?

18  וְדָוִ֨ד (And David) בָּרַ֜ח (fled) וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט (and escaped) וַיָּבֹ֤א (and went) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) הָרָמָ֔תָה (at Ramah), וַיַּ֨גֶּד־ (and he told) ל֔וֹ (him) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָֽשָׂה־ (had done) ל֖וֹ (to him) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul). וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (And went) הוּא֙ (he) וּשְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (and Samuel) וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and stayed) בְּנֹוִית׃ (in Naioth).

19  וַיֻּגַּ֥ד (And it was declared) לְשָׁא֖וּל (to Saul), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), דָוִ֔ד (David is) בְּנֹוִית (in Naioth) בָּרָמָֽה׃ (in Ramah). 20  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) מַלְאָכִים֮ (messengers) לָקַ֣חַת (to take) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִד֒ (David), וַיַּ֗רְא (and they saw) אֶֽת־ (-) לַהֲקַ֤ת (the group) הַנְּבִיאִים֙ (of prophets) נִבְּאִ֔ים (prophesying) וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל (and Samuel) עֹמֵ֥ד (standing) נִצָּ֖ב (as leader) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (over them), וַתְּהִ֞י (and came) עַֽל־ (upon) מַלְאֲכֵ֤י (the messengers) שָׁאוּל֙ (of Saul) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (and prophesied) גַּם־ (also) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they).

21  וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ (And was told) לְשָׁא֗וּל (Saul), וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ (and he sent) מַלְאָכִ֣ים (messengers) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other) וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (and prophesied) גַּם־ (likewise) הֵ֑מָּה (they).

וַיֹּ֣סֶף (And added) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ (and sent) מַלְאָכִ֣ים (messengers) שְׁלִשִׁ֔ים (the third time), וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (and prophesied) גַּם־ (also) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they).

22  וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) גַּם־ (also) ה֜וּא (he) הָרָמָ֗תָה (to Ramah), וַיָּבֹא֙ (and he came) עַד־ (to) בּ֤וֹר (the well) הַגָּדוֹל֙ (great) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) בַּשֶּׂ֔כוּ (at Sechu). וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל (And he asked) וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (and said), אֵיפֹ֥ה (Where are) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) וְדָוִ֑ד (and David)?

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And one said), הִנֵּ֖ה (Behold), בְּנֹוִית (in Naioth) בָּרָמָֽה׃ (in Ramah).

23  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And he went) שָׁ֔ם (there) אֶל־ (to) נֹוִית (Naioth) בָּרָמָ֑ה (in Ramah), וַתְּהִי֩ (and was) עָלָ֨יו (upon him) גַּם־ (even) ה֜וּא (him) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (and he went), הָלוֹךְ֙ (going on), וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֔א (and he prophesied) עַד־ (until) בֹּא֖וֹ (he came) בְּנֹוִית (to Naioth) בָּרָמָֽה׃ (in Ramah). 24  וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט (And stripped off) גַּם־ (also) ה֜וּא (he) בְּגָדָ֗יו (his clothes) וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א (and prophesied) גַם־ (in like manner), הוּא֙ (he) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וַיִּפֹּ֣ל (and he lay) עָרֹ֔ם (naked) כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַה֖וּא (that) וְכָל־ (and all) הַלָּ֑יְלָה (the night). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) יֹֽאמְר֔וּ (they say), הֲגַ֥ם (Is also) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃פ (among the prophets)?