This passage echoes some of the same themes seen in chapters 23 and 24. Then, the locals of the wilderness of Ziph told Saul where David and his men are hiding (1 Samuel 23:19–24). In another time and place, Saul chased David. David had the chance to kill Saul but refused to touch the Lord's anointed. Saul admits that David is righteous and leaves peacefully (1 Samuel 24).

First Samuel 26 starts the same. David and his men are hiding in the wilderness of Ziph. The locals report their presence to Saul. Either driven by his own irrational fear of David or the evil spirit God sent him (1 Samuel 16:14–16; 18:10; 19:9), Saul forgets what he owes David and gathers an army to chase him. David's scouts find Saul's encampment and bring David. David looks down and sees Saul asleep next to his general Abner. David asks for one of two men to volunteer to sneak into Saul's camp with him. His nephew Abishai agrees, and the pair make their way through the sleeping bodies of the Israelite soldiers to stand directly beside Saul and Abner. Abishai sees Saul's spear and tells David this is the moment to kill the king (1 Samuel 26:1–9).

Again, David refuses. It would be a sin to murder the Lord's anointed king, and God will punish anyone who does so. But David does take the spear as well as Saul's water jug, and he and Abishai creep away. David climbs a nearby hill, a safe distance from the camp, and calls down to Abner. While holding Saul's spear, David chastises Abner for not protecting his king. Saul calls out to him (1 Samuel 26:10–17).

This time, David adds a different complaint. By chasing David to the wilderness, Saul is keeping David from properly worshiping God at the tabernacle. David doesn't mention that Saul killed all the priests who kept the tabernacle, except the high priest's son who is with David (1 Samuel 22). Although David can receive guidance from God, he can't sacrifice or worship according to the Law (1 Samuel 26:18–20).

As he has done before, Saul immediately confesses that he is wrong and guilty of sin. He promises not to harm David and invites him to return home. David ignores this. After leaving Saul's spear where it can be easily retrieved, David says that his trust for reward and protection is in the Lord. This means he expects nothing good from the king. He emphasizes that he has proved once again that he will not harm Saul. Saul gives David a generic blessing, and they part peacefully (1 Samuel 26:21–25).

When David plead his case before Saul, he says that his exile is akin to a demand to serve other gods (1 Samuel 26:19). He is kept from worship at the tabernacle. Now, to stay out of Saul's reach, David decides to take his men and families to Gath, a Philistine city that serves idols. Ironically, David is safer among people he made a reputation fighting than in his own nation (1 Samuel 27).

First Samuel 26:1–5 echoes the events of 1 Samuel 23:19–24. Ziphites send word of David's location to Saul, and Saul brings his army. While the encampment sleeps, David spies on them. Saul and his general Abner are in the center, surrounded by sleeping soldiers. Reminiscent of 1 Samuel 24, David will sneak into the camp and take evidence that he could have killed Saul: this time, Saul's spear. Despite Saul, again, telling David that he's in the wrong and David is right, David will take his men to safer territory where Saul will never follow (1 Samuel 26:6—27:1).

First Samuel 26:6–12 proves David's faithfulness to God and his loyalty to Saul yet again. Saul and his army have chased David and his men to the wilderness, but David's spies find them asleep (1 Samuel 26:1–5). David and Abishai sneak past the soldiers to where Saul and his general are lying. Abishai tells David it's time to kill Saul, but David refuses. They take Saul's spear and water jug and retreat. Once a safe distance away, David will call out to Saul, showing the spear as evidence of his loyalty. Saul will take his army and go home. They won't meet again (1 Samuel 26:13–25).

First Samuel 26:13–16 recounts David chastising Saul's general Abner. Once again, Saul and his army came to the wilderness of Ziph to destroy David and his men. David's spies find them sleeping, and David and Abishai sneak down to where Saul and his general Abner are asleep and take Saul's spear and water jug. David escapes to a safe distance and berates Abner for not protecting his king. Saul will hear David's voice and, once again, apologize for doubting David's integrity and loyalty. David doesn't trust him, though, and he will take his people to the safety of the Philistines (1 Samuel 26:17–25; 27).

First Samuel 26:17–20 closely emulates the events of 1 Samuel 24:8–15. Saul and his army are chasing David and his men. David manages to reach Saul unaware and defenseless. David takes something that proves David could have killed the king but didn't (1 Samuel 24:1–7; 26:1–12). Now, David is presenting his prize. Before, it was a corner of Saul's robe. Now, it is Saul's spear which had been next to the sleeping king. David proclaims his innocence. Saul will apologize, and the two will part peacefully (1 Samuel 24:16–22; 26:24–25). This time, David won't take any chances. He'll take his men and families where Saul can't go: the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27).

First Samuel 26:21–25 records the last time David and Saul will ever speak to one another. Saul and his army have come to the wilderness to kill David and his men. David and Abishai creep into the camp while they all sleep and steal the spear at Saul's head. Once safe, David berates the general sleeping next to Saul for leaving his king unprotected and declares his own innocence (1 Samuel 26:1–20). Saul apologizes and takes his army back to Gibeah. David has heard Saul's apologies before and doesn't trust them. He soon takes his people to the last place Saul would expect: the heart of Philistine territory (1 Samuel 27).

History repeats itself. With information from locals, Saul and his army hunt David and his men, but David finds them first. He walks past the sleeping army and takes Saul's spear. From a safe distance, David calls down into the camp and holds up the evidence that he could have killed Saul. Saul confesses that he has sinned against David and promises to stop trying to kill him. David says his only confidence for deliverance is in the Lord. Saul leaves and David takes his men and families to the safety of Philistine territory.

Earlier, David passed up an opportunity to kill King Saul while he was unaware (1 Samuel 24). The same general event happens once again. The people of Ziph tell Saul where David is, and Saul comes running (1 Samuel 23:19–24). David finds Saul first and takes evidence that he could have killed the king but didn't. David confronts Saul, and Saul admits David is righteous and loyal (1 Samuel 24). This time, David is finished trusting Saul. He takes his people to Achish, the king of Gath. Apparently, the Philistine king respects David's honor more than David's own king (1 Samuel 27). Meanwhile, Saul slips further into disobedience to God (1 Samuel 28).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

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