1 Samuel 26:2-25 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:8

Then said Abishai to David ,.... Seeing Saul fast asleep, and a spear so near him: God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day : or at this time, properly it was night: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear ; with Saul's own spear, which was stuck in the ground at his bolster. He remembered that David would not put forth his hand to stay him before, when he had an opportunity; and since now another offered, he did not move it to him to do it, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, destroy him not ,.... He laid his commands upon him not to hurt him: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless ? since Saul was king, and appointed to that office by the Lord, and was anointed by his order for it, and invested with it by him, his person was sacred, and not to be touched; nor could his life be taken away by any without being guilty of a very great crime indeed, which it might be justly expected the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:10

And David said furthermore ,.... In order to make Abishai easy, and prevent his doing what he proposed: as the Lord liveth ; which was the form of an oath, made to assure Abishai of the truth of what follows, and therefore he need not be hasty to put Saul to death, since it would not be long before he should die, in one or other of the three following ways: either the Lord shall smite him ; suddenly, which the Jews call cutting off, or death by the hand of heaven, by the immediate... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:11

The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed ,.... Or suffer any about him to do it; he speaks of it with the utmost detestation and abhorrence: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster ; not to smite him with, as he desired, but to carry off, and was no other than his sceptre; See Gill on 1 Samuel 20:33 , and the cruse of water ; which stood in the same place, as appears by 1 Samuel 26:12 . Some take this to be a pot... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:12

So David took the spear, and the cruse of water, from Saul's bolster ,.... Abishai either refusing to take them, since he might not take away his life; or it may be rather David thought better of it, and took them himself, lest Abishai should be tempted, when so near to Saul, and his spear in his hand, and should thrust him with it; though David may be said to take them by the hands of Abishai: and they gat them away ; with the above things along with them: and no man saw it , nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13

Then David went over to the other side ,.... To a hill on the other side, opposite to Hachilah, where Saul lay encamped; or "passed over the passage" F17 ויעבר העבר "et transivit transitum", Montanus. , the valley that lay between the two hills, and perhaps passed over a brook that ran in the valley, which is not unusual; so Josephus F18 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9. says, that he went over a brook and came to the top of a mountain: and stood on the top of an hill afar off... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:14

And David cried unto the people ,.... To the army of Saul with a loud voice, that he might be heard: and to Abner the son of Ner ; particularly to him, because he was general of the army: saying, answerest thou not, Abner ? it seems he had called to him more than once, and he had returned no answer; perhaps not being thoroughly awake, or not knowing whose voice it was, and from whence it came: then Abner answered and said, who art thou that criest to the king ? but it does... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:15

And David said to Abner, art not thou a valiant man ?.... Or a man F21 איש "vir", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator. , a man of great fame for courage and valour, a man of great authority, who had the next post in the army under Saul, but had not behaved like a man, worthy of his character and office: and who is like to thee in Israel ? none that bare so great a name, or was in so high an office, who therefore should have been careful to have acted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:16

This thing is not good that thou hast done ,.... Yea, it was very bad, a great fault, and very blameworthy, if he had neglected to set a watch over the king, whose business it was as a general; the words are expressed in a figure called "meiosis", in which less is said than was intended: as the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed ; if a watch was set, and these had fallen asleep, and neglected their duty, or had deserted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:17

And Saul knew David's voice ,.... Though Abner at first did not, as appears by his words, but Saul did, by being this time thoroughly awake through the discourse that passed between David and Abner: and said, is this thy voice, my son David ? the same question he put before, when he followed him out of the cave; see Gill on 1 Samuel 24:16 , and David said, it is my voice, my lord, O king ; he not only owns him to be king, whom he sought not to depose, but his own liege lord and... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:17

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