1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah , saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah , which is before the desert ? 2Then Saul arose , and went down to the wilderness of Ziph , having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him , to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph . 3And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah , which is before the desert , by the way . But David abode in the wilderness , and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness . 4David therefore sent out spies , and understood that Saul was come of a certainty . 5And David arose , and came to the place where Saul had encamped ; and David beheld the place where Saul lay , and Abner the son of Ner , the captain of his host : and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him . 6Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite , and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah , brother to Joab , saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp ? And Abishai said , I will go down with thee . 7So 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 . 8Then said Abishai to David , God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day : now therefore let me smite him , I pray thee , with the spear to the earth at one stroke , and I will not smite him the second time . 9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not ; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah ’s anointed , and be guiltless ? 10And David said, As Jehovah liveth , Jehovah will smite him ; or his day shall come to die ; or he shall go down into battle and perish . 11Jehovah forbid that I should put forth my hand against Jehovah ’s anointed : but now take , I pray thee , the spear that is at his head , and the cruse of water , and let us go . 12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul ’s head ; and they gat them away : and no man saw it , nor knew it , neither did any awake ; for they were all asleep , because a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them .
The Confrontation
13Then David went over to the other side , and stood on the top of the mountain afar off ; a great space being between them ; 14and David cried to the people , and to Abner the son of Ner , saying, Answerest thou not , Abner? Then Abner answered and said , Who art thou that criest to the king ? 15And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel ? wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy lord the king ? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16This thing is not good that thou hast done . As Jehovah liveth , ye are worthy to die , because ye have not kept watch over your lord , Jehovah ’s anointed . And now see where the king ’s spear is , and the cruse of water that was at his head . 17And Saul knew David ’s voice , and said, Is this thy voice , my son David ? And David said, It is my voice , my lord, O king . 18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant ? for what have I done ? or what evil is in my hand ? 19Now therefore , I pray thee , let my lord the king hear the words of his servant . If it be Jehovah that hath stirred thee up against me , let him accept an offering : but if it be the children of men , cursed be they before Jehovah ; for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of Jehovah , saying , Go , serve other gods. 20Now therefore , let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Jehovah : for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea , as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains .
Saul's Response
21Then said Saul , I have sinned : return , my son David ; for I will no more do thee harm , because my life was precious in thine eyes this day : behold , I have played the fool , and have erred exceedingly . 22And David answered and said , Behold the spear , O king ! let then one of the young men come over and fetch it . 23And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah ’s anointed . 24And , 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 Jehovah , and let him deliver me out of all tribulation . 25Then Saul said to David , Blessed be thou , my son David : thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail . So David went his way , and Saul returned to his place .