King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 14 notes
1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2Then 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.
3And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
How did David know to watch out for Saul?
After all, they had sworn to be at peace ✌️, they and their descendants.
So what happened to that vow, for David to still be on the lookout for Saul?
This is wisdom indeed. Saul was a truce breaker; his words were as fickle as the shadows.
David had done much for Saul, much to prove his loyalty, but Saul hunted him down 👇.
So I guess David knew to not trust 100% the dealings with Saul, not even if he swore and covenanted.
Lord, give me wisdom, I pray, to know how to deal 🤝 with all men.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
David had his own system of security 🔐; he sent his own spies to verify if indeed it was as he heard.
5And 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.
What a move, wow 😱, very risky move, but it carried the element of surprise.
They least of all expected David to dare come to their camp 🏕.
What a risk. David was a very bold and strong 💪 man 👨 to take such a course of action.
Awesome 👏
6Then 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? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
These men, later to be reckoned as David's mighty men.
They were with him from the very beginning.
7So 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.
Ahimelech did not go, and understandably.
They had gotten the chance to smite Saul long ago, and they let it pass because of David's own emotional beliefs (seemingly weak).
And now Saul was back, and David wanted another risk to be taken. No, not Ahimelech, and rightly so.
Leadership and decisions of leaders are sometimes difficult to decipher, but we must behave ourselves wisely in the corridors of power.
Especially under a wise and anointed leader.
David had been an insider before and knew some of the protocol around the king 👑.
With this knowledge he navigated his way to Saul.
8Then 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.
For Abishai to be willing to do this, Saul indeed was disdained in his eyes 👀.
To be so easily willing to kill your king 👑, the anointed of the Lord, Saul indeed had lost respect from the people.
He was erratic, had focused his ill intent on the one who brought him the greatest victories, he was a truce breaker and raving mad 😡 at times.
9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?
10David 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.
This was so prophetic, and indeed he died in battle.
What's strange is that among the options for Saul's death included dying on his appointed day.
Meaning David was willing to wait until Saul was dead, even if it meant waiting until Saul died of old age 🧓.
He talked of the Lord striking Saul, quite similar to what happened to Nabal.
David was quite a man 👨. A man of many parts and capabilities.
It was not that he was unwilling to be king, for we see that the moment Saul died he was made king 👑.
But he was a noble man and unwilling to take things by doing evil 😈.
The same spirit is reflected even in his kingship. Firstly, he was made king of Judah whiles Saul's son reigned as king 👑.
Later, by natural occurrences, he was made king of both realms.
11The 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.
12So 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.
The Lord's anointed, the Lord was on his side.
I wonder if David enquired of the Lord before attempting this feat.
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14And 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?
15And 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.
Interesting use and play on words
16This 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.
17And 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.
18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19Now 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.
Aww aw... Of course David knew the king was filled with jealousy, but chose his words carefully so the king was blameless of any charge.
This indeed is court manners & palace protocol...
Because it was obvious to all, the madness of the king 👑, but who dares confront him? And everyone around him had their own agenda and interests.
The king 👑, kingsmen and courtiers profited much from him being king 👑 and would want that maintained.
If the Lord had stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering... This sounds like a line that should appear in the Psalms.
20Now 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.
21Then 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.
22And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23The 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.
Now, having had the king 👑 accept his faults, David now speaks plainly of having the opportunity to kill the king, yet spared his life...
He started by courtesies before letting out what had really happened.
24And, 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.
25Then 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.