David in Saul's Camp I Samuel 26

I Samuel 26:7 "So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; but Abner and the people lay round about him."

David has fled to Hachilah. The Ziphites came to Saul and told him the area where David was. Saul took 3000 men to hunt down David's 600. They got close but while they camped and slept, David sneaked into the camp and took Saul's spear and water bottle.

v13 "Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off: a great space being between them."

From there David hollered to Abner who was Saul's number one military man. He was also the son of Saul's uncle. David told Abner that he was not doing his job and ought to die for not protecting his master.

v16 "This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster."

Abner demanded to know who was speaking thus to him but Saul recognized David's voice and addressed him. David asked again why he was being hunted down and said how he was unworthy to be chased by the king since he was but a flea.

v20 "Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains."

This is the second time David could have killed Saul while he slept but would not because Saul was anointed to be king by the LORD. Saul pretends to be repentant but we will see that David did not believe a word of it.

v21 "Then said Saul, I have sinned: return my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly." See chapter 24.

I don't know if Saul believed what he said next but it was an accurate prediction.

v25 "Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David, thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place."

Where does David go now? It is in the next couple of studies, LORD willing.

Psalm 35:4 "Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt."

Keywords: Bible study, Old Testament, Israel, Saul, David, Abner, Samuel, Milton Southerland