1 Samuel 26:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph." So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

NASB: Then Saul said to David, 'Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.' So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

CSB: Saul said to him, "You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail." Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

NLT: And Saul said to David, 'Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.' Then David went away, and Saul returned home.

KJV: Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

NKJV: Then Saul said to David, “ May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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.