1 Samuel 26:2-25 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:2-4

Three thousand chosen men . Not chosen for this expedition, but the force which Saul always kept under arms ( 1 Samuel 13:2 ). By the way. The high road which led down to Arad. David abode in the wilderness. Hebrew, "abides." Instead of fleeing in haste as before, he remains apparently on the higher ground, as he speaks in 1 Samuel 26:6 of going down to Saul's camp. And he saw . I.e. learned, was told. It was only when his scouts brought him their report that he knew that Saul... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:5

David arose. It seems as if David could scarcely believe that Saul would thus a second time pursue him; but when the scouts informed him that it was really so, he went in person to reconnoitre Saul's camp. From the opposite hill he was able to see that he lay in the trench, i.e. the barricade formed by the wagons. At night Saul's place would be in the centre, with Abner near him, while the rest would lie sleeping around, but all of them within the rampart. When David reconnoitred them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:6

Ahimelech the Hittite. Though a portion of this once powerful people ( Genesis 15:20 ; 1:26 ) was reduced to the position of bondmen ( 1 Kings 9:20 ), yet others had retained their independence, and their kings even are spoken of ( ibid. 10:29; 2 Kings 7:6 ). As Ahimelech is mentioned before Abishai, he must have held an honourable place with. David, as did subsequently another Hittite, Uriah ( 2 Samuel 11:3 ). Abishai the son of Zeruiah. Zeruiah is described in 1 Chronicles... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:7-8

The two accordingly go by night , or "at night," as soon as night came on, and find Saul asleep within the trench, i.e. inside the wagon rampart, as in 1 Samuel 26:5 , and his spear, the sign of his royal authority, stuck in the ground; not at his bolster, but "at his head; and so in 1 Samuel 26:11 , 1 Samuel 26:12 , 1 Samuel 26:16 . The word literally signifies "the place where the head is." Like David's men in 1 Samuel 24:4 , Abishai sees in Saul's defenceless condition a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:9-11

David forbids the deed as before ( 1 Samuel 24:6 ), because of Saul's office. As we there saw, this was an ingrained principle in David's mind on which he constantly acted. Present with equal strength in Saul's mind, it was the cause of moral ruin to the one, and of a noble forbearance and self-control to the other. David therefore leaves him in Jehovah's hand, saying, As Jehovah liveth, Jehovah shall smite him; or his day, etc. Literally, "As Jehovah liveth (I will not smite him), but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:12

And no man saw it, etc. The Hebrew text describes the occurrence in a much more lively manner: "And none saw, and none knew, and none awaked." A deep sleep from Jehovah, etc. So surprising a fact as that two men could penetrate into the very centre of a considerable army, and remove the king's sceptre and water bottle from his side, could only be accounted for by the interference of Providence in their behalf. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-16

The top of a hill. Hebrew, "the top of the hill," the particular mountain from which David had reconnoitred Saul's camp ( 1 Samuel 26:5 ). A great space being between them. At En-gedi Saul was alone, and had placed himself in David's power; he therefore had followed him closely. Here Saul had his army round him, and David had entered his camp by stealth. It is not, therefore, till he had placed an ample interval between them that he calls to Abner , and asks in derision, Art thou not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-25

Afflictions and righteousness. The facts are— 1 . David seeks to arouse the attention of Saul by an appeal to Abner, blended with reproof of his negligence. 2 . Saul, on recognising David's voice, is answered by him in terms expressive of loyal homage. 3 . David appeals to Saul with respect to his conduct, pointing out its harshness and unreasonableness. 4 . Saul, valuing his own life just spared, admits the force of the plea, and promises to desist from persecution. 5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:17-19

Is this thy voice? So 1 Samuel 24:16 . In the darkness the only way of recognising David was by his voice. If Jehovah have stirred thee up, etc. This is one of the many passages indicative of the intensity with which the Israelites had grasped the idea of the omnipresence of the Deity, and of his being the one power by whose energy all things exist and all acts are done (see on 1 Samuel 2:2 ). Alike evil and good come from God, for he alone is the source of all; but it does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:20

Let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of Jehovah. Hebrew, "far from the presence of Jehovah." The point of David's appeal is not that his life may be spared, but that he may not thus be driven far away from the land where Jehovah manifests himself; nor does he seem so much to contemplate Saul's putting him to death as the probability that sooner or later the life of an exile will be cut short by one or other of the many dangers by which he is surrounded. A flea. Hebrew, "a... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:2-4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:7-8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:9-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:12

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:13-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:17-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:20

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