1 Samuel 26:11

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

David spares Saul’s Life a Second Time1. Hachilah] near the wilderness of Ziph: see 1 Samuel 23:19. 4. Was come in very deed] Heb. ’was come to Nakon.’ Nakon = ’a set place’ (RM), though it may have been the corruption of a place-name, such as Maon.6. Hittite] So he belonged to one of the original inhabitants of the country. We might expect to find some of them among David’s followers: cp. 1 Samuel 22:2. Uriah, another Hittite, played an important part in David’s history. Abishai] is here... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 26:11

(11) The spear.—The spear was Saul’s especial sign of royalty. “This taking away of the spear from Saul’s head as he slept was an omen of the transfer of his royalty to David.”—Bishop Patrick, quoted by Wordsworth.And the cruse of water.—“A very ancient usage explains why the cruse of water is here brought into such special prominence. According to this custom, some high dignitary always had in keeping a costly ewer for the king’s necessary ablutions, and it was specially his duty to take it... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

CHAPTER XXXI.DAVID TWICE SPARES THE LIFE OF SAUL.1 Samuel 24:1-22; 1 Samuel 26:1-25.THE invasion of the Philistines had freed David from the fear of Saul for a time, but only for a time. He knew full well that when the king of Israel had once repelled that invasion he would return to prosecute the object on which his heart was so much set. For a while he took refuge among the rocks of Engedi, that beautiful spot of which we have already spoken, and which has been embalmed in Holy Writ, as... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

CHAPTER 26 1. The Ziphites and Saul’s pursuit (1 Samuel 26:1-4 ) 2. David again spares Saul (1 Samuel 26:5-12 ) 3. David’s words to Abner (1 Samuel 26:13-16 ) 4. David’s words to Saul (1 Samuel 26:17-20 ) 5. Saul’s confession and David’s reply (1 Samuel 26:21-25 ) Hachilah, where we find David now, was six miles east of Ziph and about halfway to En-gedi. The Ziphites once more reveal his hiding place to Saul. And Saul was rushing forward to his doom when with his three thousand... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

It seems tragically foolish on Saul's part that he should respond as he did to another message from the Ziphites to the effect that David was hiding in the hill country of Hachilah (v.1). He had told David only a short time before this, "I know well that thou shalt surely be king" (ch.24:20). Now he seems to have forgotten this and forgotten the kindness of David to him, and again takes three thousand chosen men to hunt David as a defenseless deer. Of course David and his men knew the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

MORE BROKEN PROMISES DAVID AND ABIGAIL (1 Samuel 25:0 ) The romance of this chapter has a setting like this: The Wilderness of Paran on the south was a common pasture like our prairies, and for this reason open to marauders from among the Arabs. David and his men must have been a protection to their countrymen from such incursions, and in the habit of receiving practical acknowledgments of their service. Nabal was a rich sheep owner who must have been indebted to them, and “good business,”... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

Twice Reconciled 1Sa 26:25 WE have seen the reconciliation of Saul, and had some reason to believe, from the tender words which Saul said, that he and David would be friends evermore. "Saul lifted up his voice and wept; and he said unto David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil." When a man like Saul has wept, and spoken words so morally noble, it is but fair to credit him with sincerity and permanence. We have no hesitation in... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:11-12

(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. (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. This last verse becomes a clue for explaining this wonderful transaction, a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:1-12

1-12 How soon do unholy hearts lose the good impressions convictions have made upon them! How helpless were Saul and all his men! All as though disarmed and chained, yet nothing is done to them; they are only asleep. How easily can God weaken the strongest, befool the wisest, and baffle the most watchful! David still resolved to wait till God thought fit to avenge him on Saul. He will by no means force his way to the promised crown by any wrong methods. The temptation was very strong; but if he... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 26:1-12

David in Saul's Camp v. 1. And the Ziphites, who had once before played traitors against David, came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, south of the wilderness? v. 2. Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having forgotten, apparently, that he owed his life to the magnanimity of David, 1 Samuel 24:18, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, evidently his permanent guard and the nucleus of... read more

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