Year of the Bible
1 Samuel 26
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Commentary on the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 26:
Similar to events in chapter 24, David has the opportunity to kill Saul, his supporters believe God has given Saul into David’s hand, yet David refuses to harm the Lord’s anointed. He does, however, chastise Abner, the commander of the King’s army, for allowing David to come so close to the King, and he challenges Saul for his constant pursuit of David who has done him no wrong. David also speaks eloquently of how he trusts that God has seen his righteous actions and that God will respond by protecting David. Saul again expresses remorse, and, once again, the leaders go their separate ways.
The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 26:
David Again Spares Saul’s Life
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 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. 8 Then said Abishai to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them; 14 and David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you that calls to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to seek my life, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have done wrong; return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” 22 And David made answer, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Lord, give me opportunities today to show mercy. David said "who can put forth his hand over The Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" (v. 9) Help me to see people--especially those to whom being charitable is difficult--as Your anointed.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
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1 Llegaron los de Zif a Guibeá, donde
estaba Saúl y le dijeron:
–David está escondido en la colina
de Jaquilá, al lado opuesto del desierto.
2 Se levantó Saúl y bajó al desierto de
Zif acompañado de tres mil hombres
selectos de Israel para buscar a David
en el desierto de Zif. 3 Saúl acampó en la
colina de Jaquilá, que está al lado opuesto
de la estepa, junto al camino. David
estaba asentado en el desierto y, cuando
supo que Saúl había salido al desierto
para perseguirlo, 4 envió exploradores
para asegurarse de que Saúl había llegado.
5 David se levantó y llegó al lugar
donde estaba Saúl y vio el lugar donde
dormían Saúl y Abner, hijo de Ner, jefe
de su ejército. Saúl dormía en el centro
del campamento y la tropa acampaba a
su alrededor. 6 David habló a Ajimélec,
el hitita, y a Abisay, hijo de Seruyá, hermano
de Joab, y les dijo:
–¿Quién quiere bajar conmigo al
campamento donde está Saúl?
Abisay respondió:
–Yo bajaré contigo.
7 David y Abisay llegaron donde la
tropa de noche y encontraron a Saúl
acostado, durmiendo en el centro del
campamento con su lanza a su cabecera
clavada en tierra. Abner y la tropa estaban
acostados a su alrededor.
8 Abisay dijo a David:
–Dios pone hoy a tu enemigo en tus
manos. Déjame ahora clavarle en tierra
con su lanza. No necesitaré repetir
el golpe.
9 Pero David dijo a Abisay:
–No lo mates. ¿Quién alzó su mano
contra el ungido del Señor y quedó impune?
10 Y añadió David:
–Vive el Señor, que será Él quien le
hiera, bien porque le llegue el día de su
muerte, o porque caiga participando en
una batalla. 11 Que el Señor me libre de
extender mi mano contra el ungido del
Señor. Por ahora, toma la lanza que está
en su cabecera y el jarro de agua, y vámonos.
12 Tomó, pues, David la lanza y el jarro
de agua que estaba a la cabecera de
Saúl y se fueron. No hubo nadie que los
viera o que se diera cuenta y los despertara;
todos dormían porque el Señor había
hecho caer sobre ellos un sopor profundo.
13 Luego pasó David al otro lado
y se colocó en la cima del monte, lejos,
de modo que quedaba un gran espacio
entre ellos. 14 Y gritó a la tropa y a Abner,
hijo de Ner:
–¿No me respondes, Abner?
Abner respondió:
–¿Quién eres tú para llamar al rey?
15 David dijo a Abner:
–¿No eres tú un hombre con quien
nadie en Israel se puede comparar?
¿Por qué entonces no has custodiado al
rey, tu señor? Uno de la tropa ha entrado
con intención de matar al rey, tu señor.
16 No está bien lo que has hecho. Por
vida del Señor, que sois reos de muerte
por no haber custodiado a vuestro señor,
al ungido del Señor. Y ahora, vete
a ver dónde está la lanza del rey y dónde
el jarro de agua que estaba en su cabecera.
17 Saúl conoció la voz de David y
dijo:
–¿No es ésta tu voz, hijo mío, David?
Y dijo David:
–Mi voz es, señor mío, mi rey.
18 Y continuó:
–¿Por qué razón mi señor persigue a
su siervo? ¿Qué he hecho o qué maldad
hay en mí? 19 Y ahora, escuche mi señor,
el rey, las palabras de su siervo: si es el
Señor el que te incita contra mí, que sea
aplacado con una oblación; pero si son
los hombres, malditos sean ante el Señor
porque me expulsan impidiéndome
participar de la heredad del Señor al decirme:
«Vete a servir a dioses extraños».
20 Que mi sangre no sea derramada lejos
de la presencia del Señor, pues el rey de
Israel ha salido a buscar mi vida como
se persigue a una perdiz en los montes.
21 Saúl respondió:
–He pecado. Vuelve, hijo mío, David.
Nunca más te haré ningún daño
puesto que mi vida ha sido apreciada
hoy ante tus ojos. Es claro que he actuado
como un necio y que estaba muy
equivocado.
22 Respondió David:
–Aquí está la lanza del rey; que pase
uno de tus criados y se la lleve. 23 El Señor
pagará a cada uno según su justicia
y su fidelidad. El Señor te ha entregado
hoy a mis manos, pero yo no he querido
extender mi mano contra el ungido del
Señor. 24 Del mismo modo que tu vida
ha sido grande hoy ante mis ojos, que
también mi vida lo sea ante los ojos del
Señor y me libre de todo peligro.
25 Saúl dijo entonces a David:
–Bendito seas, hijo mío, David.
Todo lo que emprendas lo alcanzarás.
David se marchó por su camino y
Saúl volvió a su casa.
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La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).