David Again Spares Saul

1  וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ (And came) הַזִּפִים֙ (the Ziphites) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה (at Gibeah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הֲל֨וֹא (Is not) דָוִ֤ד (David) מִסְתַּתֵּר֙ (hiding) בְּגִבְעַ֣ת (on the hill) הַחֲכִילָ֔ה (of Hachilah), עַ֖ל (upon) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ (of Jeshimon)? 2  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ (and went down) אֶל־ (to) מִדְבַּר־ (the Wilderness) זִ֔יף (of Ziph), וְאִתּ֛וֹ (and with him) שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־ (three) אֲלָפִ֥ים (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) בְּחוּרֵ֣י (chosen) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (to seek) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בְּמִדְבַּר־ (in the Wilderness) זִֽיף׃ (of Ziph).

3  וַיִּ֨חַן (And encamped) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) בְּגִבְעַ֣ת (on the hill) הַחֲכִילָ֗ה (of Hachilah), אֲשֶׁ֛ר (which is) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הַיְשִׁימֹ֖ן (of Jeshimon), עַל־ (by) הַדָּ֑רֶךְ (the road). וְדָוִד֙ (And David) יֹשֵׁ֣ב (stayed) בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (in the wilderness), וַיַּ֕רְא (and he saw) כִּ֣י (that) בָ֥א (was coming) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) אַחֲרָ֖יו (after him) הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ (into the wilderness). 4  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And sent out) דָּוִ֖ד (David) מְרַגְּלִ֑ים (spies), וַיֵּ֕דַע (and he knew) כִּֽי־ (that) בָ֥א (had come) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) נָכֽוֹן׃ (Nachon).

5  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֗ד (David) וַיָּבֹא֮ (and came) אֶֽל־ (to) הַמָּקוֹם֮ (the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) חָנָה־ (had encamped) שָׁ֣ם (there) שָׁאוּל֒ (Saul). וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) דָּוִ֗ד (David) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּקוֹם֙ (the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) שָֽׁכַב־ (lay) שָׁ֣ם (there) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) וְאַבְנֵ֥ר (and Abner) בֶּן־ (son) נֵ֖ר (of Ner), שַׂר־ (the commander) צְבָא֑וֹ (of his army). וְשָׁאוּל֙ (And Saul) שֹׁכֵ֣ב (lay) בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל (within the camp), וְהָעָ֖ם (and the people) חֹנִ֥ים (encamped) סְבִיבֹתוֹ׃ (all around him). 6  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) דָּוִ֜ד (David) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and spoke) אֶל־ (to) אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ (Ahimelech) הַחִתִּ֗י (the Hittite) וְאֶל־ (and to) אֲבִישַׁ֨י (Abishai) בֶּן־ (son) צְרוּיָ֜ה (of Zeruiah), אֲחִ֤י (brother) יוֹאָב֙ (of Joab), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מִֽי־ (Who) יֵרֵ֥ד (will go down) אִתִּ֛י (with me) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (in) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה (the camp)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֲבִישַׁ֔י (Abishai), אֲנִ֖י (I) אֵרֵ֥ד (will go down) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (with you).

7  וַיָּבֹא֩ (And came) דָוִ֨ד (David) וַאֲבִישַׁ֥י׀ (and Abishai) אֶל־ (to) הָעָם֮ (the people) לַיְלָה֒ (by night), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and there) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) שֹׁכֵ֤ב (lay) יָשֵׁן֙ (sleeping) בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל (within the camp), וַחֲנִית֥וֹ (and his spear) מְעוּכָֽה־ (was pressed) בָאָ֖רֶץ (into the ground) מְרַאֲשֹׁתוֹ (by his head). וְאַבְנֵ֣ר (And Abner) וְהָעָ֔ם (and the people) שֹׁכְבִ֖ים (lay) סְבִיבֹתוֹ׃ס (all around him)

8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) אֲבִישַׁי֙ (Abishai) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), סִגַּ֨ר (Has delivered) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (God) הַיּ֛וֹם (this day) אֶת־ (-) אוֹיִבְךָ֖ (your enemy) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (into your hand). וְעַתָּה֩ (And now) אַכֶּ֨נּוּ (let me strike him) נָ֜א (please) בַּחֲנִ֤ית (with the spear) וּבָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (and into the earth) פַּ֣עַם (stroke) אַחַ֔ת (with one), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אֶשְׁנֶ֖ה (I will need repeat) לֽוֹ׃ (it to him).

9  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִישַׁ֖י (Abishai), אַל־ (Not) תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּ (do destroy him), כִּ֠י (for) מִ֣י (who) שָׁלַ֥ח (can stretch out) יָד֛וֹ (his hand) בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ (against the anointed) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וְנִקָּֽה׃פ (and be guiltless)? 10  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), כִּ֥י (if) אִם־ (rather) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יִגָּפֶ֑נּוּ (shall strike him) אֽוֹ־ (or) יוֹמ֤וֹ (his day) יָבוֹא֙ (shall come) וָמֵ֔ת (and he will die), א֧וֹ (or) בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (to the battle) יֵרֵ֖ד (he shall go out) וְנִסְפָּֽה׃ (and perish). 11  חָלִ֤ילָה (Far be it) לִּי֙ (from me) מֵֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH) מִשְּׁלֹ֥חַ (to stretch out) יָדִ֖י (my hand) בִּמְשִׁ֣יחַ (against the anointed) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וְ֠עַתָּה (And) קַח־ (take) נָ֨א (please) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲנִ֜ית (the spear) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that is) מְרַאֲשֹׁתוֹ (by his head), וְאֶת־ (and) צַפַּ֥חַת (the jug) הַמַּ֖יִם (of water), וְנֵ֥לֲכָה (and let go) לָּֽנוּ׃ (us).

12  וַיִּקַּח֩ (And took) דָּוִ֨ד (David) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲנִ֜ית (the spear) וְאֶת־ (and) צַפַּ֤חַת (the jug) הַמַּ֙יִם֙ (of water) מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣י (by the head) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and they went away) לָהֶ֑ם (to them) וְאֵ֣ין (and no one) רֹאֶה֩ (saw it), וְאֵ֨ין (and no one) יוֹדֵ֜עַ (knew it), וְאֵ֣ין (and no one) מֵקִ֗יץ (awoke), כִּ֤י (for) כֻלָּם֙ (they were all) יְשֵׁנִ֔ים (asleep), כִּ֚י (because) תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת (a deep sleep) יְהוָ֔ה (from YHWH) נָפְלָ֖ה (had fallen) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (on them).

David Reproves Abner

13  וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ר (And went over) דָּוִד֙ (David) הָעֵ֔בֶר (to the other side) וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד (and stood) עַל־ (on) רֹאשׁ־ (the top) הָהָ֖ר (of the hill) מֵֽרָחֹ֑ק (afar off), רַ֥ב (a great) הַמָּק֖וֹם (distance) בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃ (between them). 14  וַיִּקְרָ֨א (And called out) דָוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֗ם (the people) וְאֶל־ (and to) אַבְנֵ֤ר (Abner) בֶּן־ (son) נֵר֙ (of Ner), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הֲל֥וֹא (Do not), תַעֲנֶ֖ה (you answer), אַבְנֵ֑ר (Abner)?

וַיַּ֤עַן (And answered) אַבְנֵר֙ (Abner) וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (and said), מִ֥י (Who are) אַתָּ֖ה (you) קָרָ֥אתָ (calling out) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃פ (the king)?

15  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) דָּוִ֨ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אַבְנֵ֜ר (Abner), הֲלוֹא־ (Are not) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) אַתָּ֗ה (you)? וּמִ֤י (And who is) כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ (like you) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (in Israel)? וְלָ֙מָּה֙ (And why) לֹ֣א (not) שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ (did you watch) אֶל־ (over) אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ (your lord) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king)? כִּי־ (For) בָא֙ (came in) אַחַ֣ד (one) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) לְהַשְׁחִ֖ית (to destroy) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (the king) אֲדֹנֶֽיךָ׃ (your lord). 16  לֹא־ (Is not) ט֞וֹב (good) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing) הַזֶּה֮ (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשִׂיתָ֒ (you have done). חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), כִּ֤י (surely) בְנֵי־ (deserve) מָ֙וֶת֙ (to die) אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (because) לֹֽא־ (not) שְׁמַרְתֶּ֛ם (you⁺ have watched) עַל־ (over) אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ master), עַל־ (over) מְשִׁ֣יחַ (the anointed) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And now) רְאֵ֗ה (see), אֵֽי־ (where is) חֲנִ֥ית (spear) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (of the king) וְאֶת־ (and) צַפַּ֥חַת (the jug) הַמַּ֖יִם (of the water) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that was) מְרַאֲשֹׁתוֹ׃ (by his head).

17  וַיַּכֵּ֤ר (And knew) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (voice) דָּוִ֔ד (of David), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הֲקוֹלְךָ֥ (Is your voice) זֶ֖ה (this), בְּנִ֣י (my son) דָוִ֑ד (David)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֔ד (David), קוֹלִ֖י (It is my voice), אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord), הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

18  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), לָ֥מָּה (Why) זֶּ֛ה (is this that) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) רֹדֵ֖ף (pursues) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) עַבְדּ֑וֹ (his servant)? כִּ֚י (For) מֶ֣ה (what) עָשִׂ֔יתִי (have I done)? וּמַה־ (Or what) בְּיָדִ֖י (in my hand) רָעָֽה׃ (evil is)? 19  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) יִֽשְׁמַֽע־ (let hear) נָא֙ (please) אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) אֵ֖ת (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) עַבְדּ֑וֹ (of his servant). אִם־ (If) יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) הֱסִֽיתְךָ֥ (has stirred you up) בִי֙ (against me), יָרַ֣ח (let Him accept) מִנְחָ֔ה (an offering). וְאִ֣ם׀ (But if) בְּנֵ֣י (it is the sons) הָאָדָ֗ם (of man), אֲרוּרִ֥ים (may be cursed) הֵם֙ (they) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). כִּֽי־ (For) גֵרְשׁ֣וּנִי (they have driven me out) הַיּ֗וֹם (this day) מֵהִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַ (from sharing) בְּנַחֲלַ֤ת (in the inheritance) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֵ֥ךְ (Go), עֲבֹ֖ד (serve) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (gods) אֲחֵרִֽים׃ (other). 20  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) אַל־ (not) יִפֹּ֤ל (do let fall) דָּֽמִי֙ (my blood) אַ֔רְצָה (to the earth) מִנֶּ֖גֶד (before) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); כִּֽי־ (for) יָצָ֞א (has come out) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ (to seek) אֶת־ (-) פַּרְעֹ֣שׁ (flea) אֶחָ֔ד (one), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) יִרְדֹּ֥ף (one pursues) הַקֹּרֵ֖א (the partridge) בֶּהָרִֽים׃ (in the mountains).

Saul Acknowledges His Sin

21  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) שָׁא֨וּל (Saul), חָטָ֜אתִי (I have sinned). שׁ֣וּב (Return), בְּנִֽי־ (my son) דָוִ֗ד (David), כִּ֠י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) אָרַ֤ע (I will harm) לְךָ֙ (you) ע֔וֹד (more), תַּ֠חַת (upon) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יָקְרָ֥ה (was precious) נַפְשִׁ֛י (my life) בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ (in your eyes) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי (I have acted foolishly) וָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה (and erred) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (exceedingly) מְאֹֽד׃ (greatly).

22  וַיַּ֤עַן (And answered) דָּוִד֙ (David) וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (and said), הִנֵּ֖ה (Here is) הַחֲנִית (spear) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king)! וְיַעֲבֹ֛ר (And let come over) אֶחָ֥ד (one) מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֖ים (of the young men) וְיִקָּחֶֽהָ׃ (and get it). 23  וַֽיהוָה֙ (And YHWH) יָשִׁ֣יב (may repay) לָאִ֔ישׁ (every man) אֶת־ (-) צִדְקָת֖וֹ (for his righteousness) וְאֶת־ (and) אֱמֻנָת֑וֹ (his faithfulness). אֲשֶׁר֩ (For) נְתָנְךָ֨ (delivered you) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (YHWH) הַיּוֹם֙ (today) בְּיָ֔ד (into my hand), וְלֹ֣א (and not) אָבִ֔יתִי (I would) לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ (stretch out) יָדִ֖י (my hand) בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ (against the anointed) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 24  וְהִנֵּ֗ה (And behold), כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) גָּדְלָ֧ה (was valued much) נַפְשְׁךָ֛ (your life) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) בְּעֵינָ֑י (in my eyes), כֵּ֣ן (so) תִּגְדַּ֤ל (let be valued much) נַפְשִׁי֙ (my life) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְיַצִּלֵ֖נִי (and let Him deliver me) מִכָּל־ (out of all) צָרָֽה׃פ (tribulation).

25  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), בָּר֤וּךְ (Blessed be) אַתָּה֙ (you), בְּנִ֣י (my son) דָוִ֔ד (David), גַּ֚ם (also) עָשֹׂ֣ה (accomplishing) תַעֲשֶׂ֔ה (you will accomplish), וְגַ֖ם (and) יָכֹ֣ל (prevailing) תּוּכָ֑ל (you will prevail).

וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (And went) דָּוִד֙ (David) לְדַרְכּ֔וֹ (on his way), וְשָׁא֖וּל (and Saul) שָׁ֥ב (returned) לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃פ (to his place).