1 Samuel 26

26:1-25 This was the last time Saul and David were together. The Ziphites told Saul for the second time where David was hiding (see 23:19-20), and David spared Saul’s life a second time as he did in the cave at En-gedi (see ch 24).26:1 Men from Ziph had previously volunteered to capture David and hand him over to Saul (23:19-20). • Hakilah . . . Jeshimon is the same geographical location they had mentioned to Saul before (23:19). David had not moved far, probably because the hilly terrain was dotted with numerous caves, providing many good hiding places.

26:3 Saul had come after David again, despite his earlier remorse (24:17-21). Saul had become incapable of acting rationally or speaking truthfully.

26:5 Abner son of Ner: See study note on 20:25.

26:6 This is the only reference to Ahimelech the Hittite. • Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chr 2:16), so Abishai was David’s nephew. The sons of Zeruiah (Abishai, Joab, and Asahel) were three of David’s most faithful followers (e.g., 2 Sam 2:18), but they sometimes caused David difficulty (see 2 Sam 3:39; 16:10; 19:22).

26:8 God has surely handed your enemy over to you: Cp. 24:4.

26:9 the Lord’s anointed: See study note on 24:6.

26:10 David was confident that God would judge between him and Saul just as he had done between him and Nabal (see 25:38). Saul did die . . . in battle against the Philistines (31:6).

26:14 Abner: See study note on 20:25.

26:16 deserve to die: Death was the punishment for dereliction of duty.

26:17 Is that you, my son David? Cp. 24:16.

26:19 If the Lord has stirred you up against me: David was perplexed by Saul’s behavior and concerned with the possibility of unintentional sin on his part. • a human scheme: Possibly a reference to Doeg (22:9-10). • worship pagan gods: The sentiment parallels Ps 137:4. Anyone who was exiled from the holy land was unable to worship the Lord by participating in sacrifice at the central sanctuary.

26:20 a single flea: Cp. 24:14.

26:21 I have sinned: Saul had seen the error of his ways once before (24:16-19). David had no good reason to trust him this time (see 27:1). • I have been a fool: This Hebrew term (sakal, “play the fool,” see also 13:13) is different from the word meaning “fool” (nabal) used in ch 25. However, the two words have parallel meanings. Saul and Nabal are parallel figures.

26:23 David did not harm Saul (24:6; 26:9) because Saul was the Lord’s anointed one (see study note on 24:6).

26:24 may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours: David could not count on Saul to reciprocate. Thus, his fate was in God’s hands.

26:25 Saul returned home, and this may have been David’s last personal encounter with him.