1 Samuel 26:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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: 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.

NASB: Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them.

CSB: David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them.

NLT: David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance.

KJV: Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

NKJV: Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them.

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).

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.

Accessed 9/18/2025 6:00:28 PM