1 Samuel 26

1 Samuel 26

Cole - DAVID LEARNED TO WAIT UPON THE LORD FOR HIS TIMING. In a word, he learned endurance. Note 1 Sam. 26:10-11. David said this after this thing had been going on for years! He was running for his life and living in caves, while Saul lived in the luxury of the palace. Perhaps it was during this time that David wrote Ps. 62:5, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.” David was learning to persevere. Anyone who serves the Lord must learn to wait upon the Lord--to endure. The Christian life is not a 100-yard dash. It’s a marathon. A marathon is never judged by how fast the runners spring from the starting blocks. It is always determined by the long haul. It’s exciting to be anointed as king when you’re a teenager. It’s thrilling to defeat Goliath and to be famous and popular as a young man. But excitement and thrills are not enough to sustain a man who must face the pressures of running the government and defending the kingdom day in and day out for 40 years. That takes a man who knows endurance through waiting upon the Lord. It’s exciting and fresh to begin to serve the Lord in some new ministry. It’s thrilling to see God using you and to hear the acclaim of people. But excitement and thrills are not enough to sustain you in the pressures of ministry for Christ over a lifetime. To be running strong at the finish line, you’ve got to learn to wait upon the Lord. It’s a required basic course in God’s training school. (1 Samuel 18-26 God's Training School -- Discipleship) 1 Samuel 26:11 "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go." BGT 1 Samuel 26:11 μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ νῦν λαβὲ δὴ τὸ δόρυ ἀπὸ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν φακὸν τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἀπέλθωμεν καθ᾽ ἑαυτούς LXE 1 Samuel 26:11 The Lord forbid it me that I should lift up my hand against the anointed of the Lord: and now take, I pray thee, the spear from his bolster, and the pitcher of water, and let us return home. KJV 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. NET 1 Samuel 26:11 But may the LORD prevent me from extending my hand against the LORD's chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul's head and the jug of water, and let's get out of here!" CSB 1 Samuel 26:11 However, because of the LORD, I will never lift my hand against the LORD's anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let's go." ESV 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should put out 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." NIV 1 Samuel 26:11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." NLT 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let's get out of here!" NRS 1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should raise my hand against the LORD's anointed; but now take the spear that is at his head, and the water jar, and let us go." NJB 1 Samuel 26:11 Yahweh forbid that I should raise my hand against Yahweh's anointed! But now let us take the spear beside his head and the pitcher of water, and let us go away.' NAB 1 Samuel 26:11 But the LORD forbid that I touch his anointed! Now take the spear which is at his head and the water jug, and let us be on our way." YLT 1 Samuel 26:11 far be it from me, by Jehovah, from putting forth my hand against the anointed of Jehovah; and, now, take, I pray thee, the spear which is at his pillow, and the cruse of water, and we go away.' GWN 1 Samuel 26:11 It would be unthinkable for me to attack the LORD's anointed king. But please take that spear near his head and that jar of water, and let's go." BBE 1 Samuel 26:11 Never will my hand be stretched out against the man marked with the holy oil; but take the spear which is by his head and the vessel of water, and let us go. that I should: 1Sa 24:6,12 2Sa 1:14,16 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 1 Samuel 22:6+ Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. DAVID VOWS NOT TO LIFT A HAND AGAINST SAUL The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed (mashiach ;Lxx = Christos - cf 1Sa 24:6,10; 1Sa 26:9, 11, 16, 23, Ps. 2:2) - NET - "May the LORD prevent me from extending my hand against the LORD's chosen one!" GWN - "It would be unthinkable for me to attack the LORD's anointed king." BBE = "Never will my hand be stretched out against the man marked with the holy oil!" David is learning to wait on the LORD's timing instead of jumping in and exerting his will by taking Saul's life. but now please take the spear that is at his head ("at his pillow") and the jug of water, and let us go - David instructs Abishai to get a "souvenir" (so to speak) to document their secret mission, much like he had formerly cut a piece of Saul's robe for documentation (1Sa 24:4+). Saul's spear would seem to be a symbol of his authority and his power. It is ironic that David takes the very instrument that was repeatedly thrown at him (1Sa 18:10-11+ = escaped twice and 1Sa 19:9-10+)! It is as if David is saying, "All your attempts have failed and my taking your spear with which you tried to kill me symbolizes all your attempts to kill me will fail." Bob Roe - The spear, which before was to have been an instrument of unrighteousness, is now going to be an instrument of righteousness used to convict Saul(1 Samuel 26 Wilderness of Ziph, David Spares Saul Again) Robert Vannoy - David took the spear and water jug. In this way he sought to prove again to Saul that he did not seek his life. But he also showed Saul that God had given him the power to take away the spear with which Saul had often tried to kill him and the water jug on which Saul’s very life depended in the hot and dry Desert of Ziph. (Borrow NIV Study Bible) 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. BGT 1 Samuel 26:12 καὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ τὸ δόρυ καὶ τὸν φακὸν τοῦ ὕδατος ἀπὸ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπῆλθον καθ᾽ ἑαυτούς καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βλέπων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ γινώσκων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἐξεγειρόμενος πάντες ὑπνοῦντες ὅτι θάμβος κυρίου ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς LXE 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear, and the pitcher of water from his bolster, and they went home: and there was no one that saw, and no one that knew, and there was no one that awoke, all being asleep, for a stupor from the Lord had fallen upon them. KJV 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. NET 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head, and they got out of there. No one saw them or was aware of their presence or woke up. All of them were asleep, for the LORD had caused a deep sleep to fall on them. CSB 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul's head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD came over them. ESV 1 Samuel 26:12 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. NIV 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep. NLT 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul's men into a deep sleep. NRS 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear that was at Saul's head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. NJB 1 Samuel 26:12 David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul's head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, because a torpor from Yahweh had fallen on them. NAB 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the water jug from their place at Saul's head, and they got away without anyone's seeing or knowing or awakening. All remained asleep, because the LORD had put them into a deep slumber. YLT 1 Samuel 26:12 And David taketh the spear, and the cruse of water at the pillow of Saul, and they go away, and there is none seeing, and there is none knowing, and there is none awaking, for all of them are sleeping, for a deep sleep from Jehovah hath fallen upon them. GWN 1 Samuel 26:12 David took the spear and the jar of water near Saul's head, and they left. All of them were asleep. No one saw them, knew about it, or woke up. The LORD had made them fall into a deep sleep. BBE 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the vessel of water from Saul's head; and they got away without any man seeing them, or being conscious of their coming, or awaking; for they were all sleeping because a deep sleep from the Lord had come on them. So David: 1Sa 26:7 24:4 sound sleep: Ge 2:21 15:12 Es 6:1 Isa 29:10 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries YAHWEH'S PROVIDES DAVID PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them - Yahweh had caused a sound supernatural sleep on Saul and all his men so they would not be aroused by movement or conversation. 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. BGT 1 Samuel 26:13 καὶ διέβη Δαυιδ εἰς τὸ πέραν καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ ὄρους μακρόθεν καὶ πολλὴ ἡ ὁδὸς ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν LXE 1 Samuel 26:13 So David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, and there was a good distance between them. KJV 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: NET 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them. CSB 1 Samuel 26:13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. ESV 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. NIV 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. NLT 1 Samuel 26:13 David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. NRS 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on top of a hill far away, with a great distance between them. NJB 1 Samuel 26:13 David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. NAB 1 Samuel 26:13 Going across to an opposite slope, David stood on a remote hilltop at a great distance from Abner, son of Ner, and the troops. YLT 1 Samuel 26:13 And David passeth over to the other side, and standeth on the top of the hill afar off -- great is the place between them; GWN 1 Samuel 26:13 David went over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away. (There was a wide space between them.) BBE 1 Samuel 26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and took his place on the top of a mountain some distance away, with a great space between them; the top: 1Sa 24:8 Jdg 9:7 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID ON MOUNTAIN FAR AWAY FROM SAUL Then - Marks progression in the narrative. Presumably it is still night time. David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them - David was not so foolish as to remain too close to Saul and his men lest they try to attack. Presumably there was sufficient distance that David could make a quick escape unscathed if Saul's men did attempt to attack. TSK Note - David, by retiring to a place of safety before he called to Abner, seems to have manifested more distrust of Saul than he had done on a former occasion. Yet he desired that Saul and all Israel should be informed of his conduct at this time. Abner and his soldiers, by neglecting to guard Saul when he slept, had exposed his life, and merited to be treated as his enemies, though he confided in them as friends; for, although their sound sleep was undoubtedly supernatural, yet there might be a neglect of placing sentinels, arising from contempt of David's small company. Saul also deemed David his enemy, though he had before spared and protected his life. 1 Samuel 26:14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?" BGT 1 Samuel 26:14 καὶ προσεκαλέσατο Δαυιδ τὸν λαὸν καὶ τῷ Αβεννηρ ἐλάλησεν λέγων οὐκ ἀποκριθήσει Αβεννηρ καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Αβεννηρ καὶ εἶπεν τίς εἶ σὺ ὁ καλῶν με LXE 1 Samuel 26:14 And David called to the people, and spoke to Abenner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Abenner? and Abenner answered and said, Who art thou that callest? KJV 1 Samuel 26:14 And 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? NET 1 Samuel 26:14 David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Won't you answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you, that you have called to the king?" CSB 1 Samuel 26:14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: "Aren't you going to answer, Abner?" "Who are you who calls to the king?" Abner asked. ESV 1 Samuel 26:14 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 who calls to the king?" NIV 1 Samuel 26:14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?" NLT 1 Samuel 26:14 Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, "Wake up, Abner!" "Who is it?" Abner demanded. NRS 1 Samuel 26:14 David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, saying, "Abner! Will you not answer?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you that calls to the king?" NJB 1 Samuel 26:14 David then called out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, 'Abner, why don't you answer?' Abner replied, 'Who is that calling?' NAB 1 Samuel 26:14 He then shouted, "Will you not answer, Abner?" And Abner answered, "Who is it that calls me?" YLT 1 Samuel 26:14 and David calleth unto the people, and unto Abner son of Ner, saying, 'Dost thou not answer, Abner?' and Abner answereth and saith, 'Who art thou who hast called unto the king?' GWN 1 Samuel 26:14 Then David called to the troops and to Ner's son Abner. "Won't you answer, Abner?" he asked. "Who is calling the king?" Abner asked. BBE 1 Samuel 26:14 And crying out to the people and to Abner, the son of Ner, David said, Have you no answer to give, Abner? Then Abner said, Who is that crying out to the king? 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID ADDRESSES ABNER NOT SAUL David called ("shouted", "crying out") to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?" - Talk about be suddenly awakened to a bad dream! Abner, Saul's uncle, does not recognize David's voice and apparently he is far enough away that he can't make out his face possibly because it is still night. 1 Samuel 26:15 So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord. BGT 1 Samuel 26:15 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αβεννηρ οὐκ ἀνὴρ σύ καὶ τίς ὡς σὺ ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ διὰ τί οὐ φυλάσσεις τὸν κύριόν σου τὸν βασιλέα ὅτι εἰσῆλθεν εἷς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ διαφθεῖραι τὸν βασιλέα κύριόν σου LXE 1 Samuel 26:15 And David said to Abenner, Art not thou a man? and who is like thee in Israel? Why then dost thou not guard thy lord the king? for one out of the people went in to destroy thy lord the king. KJV 1 Samuel 26:15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. NET 1 Samuel 26:15 David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then haven't you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king. CSB 1 Samuel 26:15 David called to Abner, "You're a man, aren't you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn't you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? ESV 1 Samuel 26:15 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. NIV 1 Samuel 26:15 David said, "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. NLT 1 Samuel 26:15 "Well, Abner, you're a great man, aren't you?" David taunted. "Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven't you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? NRS 1 Samuel 26:15 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 your lord the king. NJB 1 Samuel 26:15 David said to Abner, 'Are you not a man? Who is your equal in Israel? Why, then, did you not guard the king your lord? One of the people came to kill the king your lord. NAB 1 Samuel 26:15 David said to Abner: "Are you not a man whose like does not exist in Israel? Why, then, have you not guarded your lord the king when one of his subjects went to kill the king, your lord? YLT 1 Samuel 26:15 And David saith unto Abner, 'Art not thou a man? and who is like thee in Israel? but why hast thou not watched over thy lord the king? for one of the people had come in to destroy the king, thy lord. GWN 1 Samuel 26:15 David asked Abner, "Aren't you a man? Is there anyone like you in Israel? Then why didn't you guard your master, the king? Someone came to kill His Royal Majesty. BBE 1 Samuel 26:15 And David said to Abner, Are you not a man of war? is there any other like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? for one of the people came in to put the king your lord to death. there came: 1Sa 26:8 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID CONFRONTS ABNER'S FAILURE TO GUARD SAUL So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? - Abner had asked "who are you" and David did not reveal his identity so Abner is still not sure who is speaking. David's identity does not become obvious until Saul recognizes his voice in verse 17. NLT - "Well, Abner, you're a great man, aren't you?" David taunted." The KJV has "Are you not a valiant man?" implying that he is not one! David overstepped his bounds somewhat in his comments to Abner because (1) God put the sleep hold on Abner and (2) he is taunting and mocking Saul's general, essentially an ancient form of trash talk that would come back to haunt David in the future (see Bob Roe below). David may have directed his comments to Abner instead of Saul because Exodus 22:28 says “You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people. And who is like you in Israel? - NJB = "Who is your equal in Israel?" This is rhetorical. David is saying another man like Abner does not exist in Israel! Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) - David chastises Abner for being lax in guarding Saul and explains that someone came close enough to kill Saul. 1 Samuel 26:16 "This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head." BGT 1 Samuel 26:16 καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθὸν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ὃ πεποίηκας ζῇ κύριος ὅτι υἱοὶ θανατώσεως ὑμεῖς οἱ φυλάσσοντες τὸν βασιλέα κύριον ὑμῶν τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ νῦν ἰδὲ δή τὸ δόρυ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ὁ φακὸς τοῦ ὕδατος ποῦ ἐστιν τὰ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 26:16 And this thing is not good which thou hast done. As the Lord lives, ye are worthy of death, ye who guard your lord the king, the anointed of the Lord: and now behold, I pray you, the spear of the king, and the cruse of water: where are the articles that should be at his head? KJV 1 Samuel 26:16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. NET 1 Samuel 26:16 This failure on your part isn't good! As surely as the LORD lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the LORD's chosen one, are as good as dead! Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!" CSB 1 Samuel 26:16 What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn't protect your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now look around; where are the king's spear and water jug that were by his head?" ESV 1 Samuel 26:16 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." NIV 1 Samuel 26:16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?" NLT 1 Samuel 26:16 This isn't good at all! I swear by the LORD that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the LORD's anointed! Look around! Where are the king's spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?" NRS 1 Samuel 26:16 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. See now, where is the king's spear, or the water jar that was at his head?" NJB 1 Samuel 26:16 What you did was not well done. As Yahweh lives, you all deserve to die since you did not guard your lord, Yahweh's anointed. Look where the king's spear is now, and the pitcher of water which was beside his head!' NAB 1 Samuel 26:16 This is no creditable service you have performed. As the LORD lives, you people deserve death because you have not guarded your lord, the LORD'S anointed. Go, look: where are the king's spear and the water jug that was at his head?" YLT 1 Samuel 26:16 Not good is this thing which thou hast done; Jehovah liveth, but ye are sons of death, in that ye have not watched over your lord, over the anointed of Jehovah; and now, see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water which is at his bolster.' GWN 1 Samuel 26:16 What you've done isn't good. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you are dead men. You didn't guard your master, the LORD's anointed king. Look at the king's spear and the jar of water that were near his head." BBE 1 Samuel 26:16 What you have done is not good. By the living Lord, death is the right fate for you, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the man on whom the Lord has put the holy oil. Now see, where is the king's spear, and the vessel of water which was by his head? all of you must surely die 1Sa 20:31 2Sa 12:5 19:28 Ps 79:11 102:20 *margins Eph 2:3 Lord's: 1Sa 26:9,11 24:6 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries David Holds Spear and Jug DAVID TAUNTS ABNER This thing that you have done is not good - NAB = "This is no creditable service you have performed" As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die (Heb - sons of death) - BBE = "By the living Lord, death is the right fate for you." Abner was indeed guilty and could have been disciplined for not doing his duty. because you did not guard your lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios), the LORD'S anointed (mashiach ;Lxx = Christos) - NET - "This failure on your part isn't good! As surely as the LORD lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the LORD's chosen one, are as good as dead!" David is saying they all deserved to die for not protecting the king! And now, see where the king's spear is and the jug of water that was at his head - Presumably it is still dark so he does not necessarily hold up the spear and jug (as nicely depicted in the picture above) but tells Abner to check the place where they should be located -- he will not find them! David presents the evidence of Abner's sloppy surveillance, falling asleep and failing to keep alert for enemy assassins! It is interesting that David's accusation might be somewhat harsh and incorrect, for it was the LORD who had put Abner and the soldiers into a sound sleep. Bob Roe has an interesting analysis of David's scathing "dressing down" of Abner - Notice David's humanness. He has just had a tremendous spiritual victory, but he cannot resist just one little jab. Now, David can not coarse talk Saul because in Exodus 20, Scripture says you are not allowed to revile God or curse the ruler of your people. However, it says nothing about cursing the General of your people. So David has a little proxy vengeance here. He goes way over on the other side of the hill and holds up the spear and the jug of water. The jug was right by Saul's head as was the spear. He takes this opportunity to taunt Abner, the man who has been harassing him. This is a very tactical error. (Abner is now commander of the king's army. David used to be commander of Saul's army. Possibly there was rivalry between them even then.) Abner is quite a general, and David causes him to lose face in front of 3,000 of his troops. Abner is an oriental. How do you think Abner is going to respond? Poor old David just can not resist this kind of thing. When David, upon Saul's death, becomes king of Judah, Abner takes the remaining son of Saul, Ishbosheth, and with the ten northern tribes sets up his own kingdom in opposition to David. He does not return to David until Ishbosheth insults him and he loses face in Israel. Only then does he deliver Israel to David. David's little indulgence here may well have kept him from becoming king of all of Israel for several years. When you have a spiritual victory, don't push your luck. The retribution of God is always there. When you disobey God you will pay for it somewhere down the line. I think this incident is one of the basic reasons Abner refused to allow the ten tribes of Israel to join with Judah under David as king. (1 Samuel 26 Wilderness of Ziph, David Spares Saul Again) 1 Samuel 26:17 Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king." BGT 1 Samuel 26:17 καὶ ἐπέγνω Σαουλ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν ἦ φωνή σου αὕτη τέκνον Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ δοῦλός σου κύριε βασιλεῦ LXE 1 Samuel 26:17 And Saul recognized the voice of David, and said, Is this thy voice, son David? and David said, I am thy servant, my lord, O king. KJV 1 Samuel 26:17 And 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. NET 1 Samuel 26:17 When Saul recognized David's voice, he said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" David replied, "Yes, it's my voice, my lord the king." CSB 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice and asked, "Is that your voice, my son David?" "It is my voice, my lord and king," David said. ESV 1 Samuel 26:17 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." NIV 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." NLT 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice and called out, "Is that you, my son David?" And David replied, "Yes, my lord the king. NRS 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." NJB 1 Samuel 26:17 Recognising David's voice, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' David replied, 'It is my voice, my lord king. NAB 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice and asked, "Is that your voice, my son David?" David answered, "Yes, my lord the king." YLT 1 Samuel 26:17 And Saul discerneth the voice of David, and saith, 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' and David saith, 'My voice, my lord, O king!' GWN 1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David's voice. "Is that your voice, my servant David?" he asked. "It is my voice, Your Royal Majesty," David answered. BBE 1 Samuel 26:17 And Saul, conscious that the voice was David's, said, Is that your voice, David, my son? And David said, It is my voice, O my lord king. Is this your voice, my son David: 1Sa 24:8,16 1 Samuel 26 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL RECOGNIZED DAVID'S VOICE Then Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" - Saul is amazing and incredibly hypocritical for he again refers to David as "my son" as in the Cave Encounter in 1Sa 24:16+. And David said, "It is my voice, my lord ('adon; Lxx = kurios) the king." - Notice again David's humble, submissive response to the man who is seeking to kill him! Note that although Saul said my son, David did not respond "My father" although he had responded that way in 1Sa 24:11+.