1 Samuel 26:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord 's anointed and be guiltless?"

NIV: But David said to Abishai, "Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?

NASB: But David said to Abishai, 'Do not kill him, for who can reach out with his hand against the Lord’S anointed and remain innocent?'

CSB: But David said to Abishai, "Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be innocent?"

NLT: No!' David said. 'Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?

KJV: And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord'S anointed, and be guiltless?

NKJV: But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

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).

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 10/29/2025 10:18:17 PM