What happensPermalink
The Ziphites again reveal David’s location, and Saul pursues him with his army. At night, David and Abishai slip into Saul’s camp, where the king sleeps with his spear beside him. Abishai urges David to kill Saul, but David restrains him: he will not strike the Lord’s anointed. Instead, they take Saul’s spear and water jar. From a distance, David rebukes Abner for failing to guard the king and shows Saul that he spared his life. He pleads with Saul to stop the pursuit and curses those who have stirred the king against him.
Why it mattersPermalink
This scene mirrors the cave episode, reinforcing David’s restraint and Saul’s instability. David compares himself to a hunted partridge, the “calling bird,” punning on Abner’s earlier question, “Who is calling the king?” Once more Saul appears repentant, but David does not trust him.
Key versePermalink
“The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”