David Spares Saul A Second Time

In I Samuel 24, Saul had admitted his efforts to kill David were not justifiable and had withdrawn, but based on past experience, David didn’t trust him.  Sure enough, a short time later, once he though people might forget, Saul yielded to the evil spirit once again, in I Samuel 26:1-3.  “And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?  Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.  And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way.”

Learning that Saul was in the area, David sent spies to find out if he had come after David or for some other reason.  Learning that the he was intending to catch Him, David decided to see what he could do to stop him, in I Samuel 26:4b-6.  “…But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.  David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.  And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.  Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?”

Abishai, David’s cousin accompanied him, and when he saw Saul and his guards asleep, viewed it as
God giving them an opportunity to wipe out their enemy.  David refused his offer to kill Saul, choosing to trust God to destroy him at the proper time, in I Samuel 26b-11.  “…And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.  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.  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.  The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.”

When David had shown how easily he could have killed Saul in I Samuel 24, Saul had admitted he was wrong and withdrawn for a time.  David decided to try again, in hopes Saul would be embarrassed in front of his men and hesitate to come back.  With that in mind, he Spoke to Saul’s general, Abner, rather than Saul himself, in I Samuel 26:12-16.  “So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.  Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner?

Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.  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.”

David proved that if he had wanted to kill Saul, his guards could not have stopped him.  Hopefully it would make them question Saul’s reasons.  Saul overheard and recognized David’s voice, and David publicly pointed out how irrational Saul’s pursuit was, in I Samuel 26:17-20.  “And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David?

And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.  And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?  Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.  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.”

Saul yielded to David’s reasoning, admitting he was wrong, and promising not to try to kill him anymore.  David requested that Saul show as much respect for his life, as David had shown for Saul’s, In I Samuel 26:21-25.  “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.

And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.  The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.  And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

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.”

To continue to attack David at that point would have reflected badly on Saul, and he admitted he knew God was blessing him, so once again he withdrew from the field, allowing David to go free, but David did not trust him.