1
And the Zifim came to Shaul at Givah, saying, “Is not Daviyd hiding himself on the hill of Chakhilah, which is before the wilderness?”
2
And Shaul rose and went down to the wilderness of Zif, and with him were three thousand chosen ish of Yisra’el, to seek Daviyd in the wilderness of Zif.
3
And Shaul encamped on the hill of Chakhilah, which is before the wilderness, by the way. And Daviyd was dwelling in the wilderness, and he saw that Shaul had come after him into the wilderness.
4
And Daviyd sent out spies and knew that Shaul had surely come.
5
And Daviyd rose and came to the place where Shaul had encamped. And Daviyd saw the place where Shaul lay, and Avner son of Ner, commander of his host. And Shaul lay within the encampment, and the people were encamped around him.
6
And Daviyd answered and said to Achimelekh the Chitti and to Avishai son of Tzeruyah, brother of Yoav, saying, “Who will go down with me to Shaul, to the camp?” And Avishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7
And Daviyd and Avishai came to the people by night. And see, Shaul was lying asleep within the encampment, and his spear was thrust into the earth at his head, and Avner and the people were lying around him.
8
And Avishai said to Daviyd, “Elohim has shut your enemy into your hand this day. And now, please let me strike him with the spear to the earth in one stroke, and I will not strike him a second time.”
9
And Daviyd said to Avishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the anointed of Yahuah and be innocent?”
10
And Daviyd said, “As Yahuah lives, Yahuah Himself shall strike him, or his day shall come and he shall die, or he shall go down into battle and be swept away.
11
Far be it from me, by Yahuah, that I should stretch out my hand against the anointed of Yahuah. And now, please take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”
12
And Daviyd took the spear and the jar of water from beside the head of Shaul, and they went away. And no ish saw, and no ish knew, and no ish awoke, for all of them were sleeping, because a deep sleep from Yahuah had fallen upon them.
13
And Daviyd crossed over to the other side and stood upon the top of the mountain from afar, with a great distance between them.
14
And Daviyd called to the people and to Avner son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Avner?” And Avner answered and said, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15
And Daviyd said to Avner, “Are you not an ish? And who is like you in Yisra’el? And why then have you not guarded your master the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your master.
16
This thing that you have done is not good. As Yahuah lives, sons of death are you, because you did not guard your master, the anointed of Yahuah. And now see where the spear of the king is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17
And Shaul recognized the voice of Daviyd and said, “Is this your voice, my son Daviyd?” And Daviyd said, “It is my voice, my master the king.”
18
And he said, “Why is this that my master pursues after his servant? For what have I done, and what evil is in my hand?
19
And now, please let my master the king listen to the words of his servant. If Yahuah has stirred you against me, let Him smell an offering. But if the sons of Adam, cursed are they before Yahuah, for they have driven me out this day from attaching myself to the inheritance of Yahuah, saying, ‘Go, serve other elohim.’
20
And now, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from before the face of Yahuah. For the king of Yisra’el has gone out to seek one flea, as one pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
21
And Shaul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son Daviyd, for I will no longer do evil to you, because my being was precious in your eyes this day. See, I have acted foolishly and have erred exceedingly.”
22
And Daviyd answered and said, “See the spear of the king. Let one of the young men cross over and take it.
23
And Yahuah shall return to each ish his righteousness and his faithfulness, for Yahuah gave you into my hand this day, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the anointed of Yahuah.
24
And see, as your being was great in my eyes this day, so may my being be great in the eyes of Yahuah, and may He deliver me from every distress.”
25
And Shaul said to Daviyd, “Blessed are you, my son Daviyd. Doing, you shall surely do, and prevailing, you shall surely prevail.” And Daviyd went on his way, and Shaul returned to his place.