1 Samuel 26:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:6-12

Here is, I. David's bold adventure into Saul's camp in the night, accompanied only by his kinsman Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He proposed it to him and to another of his confidants (1 Sam. 26:6), but the other either declined it as too dangerous an enterprise, or at least was content that Abishai, who was forward to it, should run the risk of it rather than himself. Whether David was prompted to do this by his own courage, or by an extraordinary impression upon his spirits, or by the oracle,... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:8

God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand - Here Abishai uses the same language as did David's men, when Saul came into the cave at En-gedi, (see 1 Samuel 24:4 , etc.), and David uses the same language in reply. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-12

The moral use of Biblical difficulties. The facts are— 1 . At the request of the Ziphites, Saul goes out in pursuit of David, who by spies ascertains his true position. 2 . David, observing Saul's camp, goes to it by night with Abishai while all are asleep. 3 . Abishai urges David to seize the opportunity to slay Saul, but is rebuked by the declaration that if Saul dies it shall be in such way as God may ordain, and not by the self-chosen hand of David. 4 . David carries... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 26:8-9

1 Samuel 26:8-9 . Now, therefore, let me smite him Although David would not kill him himself, when he had the like opportunity, 1 Samuel 24:4; yet Abishai thought he might give him leave to do it; and he pledged himself to nail him to the ground with his spear at one thrust, so that he should make no noise by crying out. And David said, Destroy him not Saul having been made king by God’s special appointment, David looked upon it as a high crime to offer any violence to him: as if he had... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

The move to Philistia (26:1-27:12)Although he had every intention of killing Nabal, David still refused to harm Saul; but Saul remained determined to harm David (26:1-5). When another opportunity arose to kill Saul, David refused to act. He was content to leave the matter with God, who would remove Saul when he saw fit (6-12).Once again David produced proof that he had no evil intentions towards Saul (13-17). But clearly David was becoming tired of this continual flight from the mad king. Not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 26:8

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 . let me smite him . Note Abishai's character. 2 Samuel 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 19:21 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 26:7-12

1 Samuel 26:7-12. So David and Abishai came to the people, &c.— This was a bold and hazardous undertaking, which would have been certain death to David had he been discovered. But David was bold and intrepid; and his and Abishai's gallantry in this affair deserves certainly to be no less celebrated than that of Ulysses and Diomed, when they went as spies to the Trojan camp. But there is more in David to be commended than his gallantry. Who can help admiring his magnanimity and piety? What... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 26:8

8-12. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand—This midnight stratagem shows the activity and heroic enterprise of David's mind, and it was in unison with the style of warfare in ancient times. let me smite him . . . even to the earth at once—The ferocious vehemence of the speaker is sufficiently apparent from his language, but David's magnanimity soared far above the notions of his followers. Though Saul's cruelty and perfidy and general want of right... read more

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