So David and Abishai came down to the people by night: and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the fort, and his spear did stick in the ground at his [a]head: and Abner and the people lay round about him.

¶ Then said Abishai to David, God hath closed thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore, I pray thee, let me smite him once with a spear to the earth, and I will not smite him [b]again.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can lay his hand [c]on the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?

10 Moreover David said, As the Lord liveth, either the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11 The Lord keep me from laying mine hand upon the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his head, and the pot of water, and let us go hence.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 26:7 Or, bolster.
  2. 1 Samuel 26:8 Meaning, he would make him sure at one stroke.
  3. 1 Samuel 26:9 To wit, in his own private cause: for Jehu slew two Kings at God’s appointment, 2 Kings 9:24.

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