time." But David answered: “Kill him not; for who shall[1] put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and remain guiltless? But now take the spear[2] which is at his head, and the cup of water, and let us go.”
So they took the spear and the cup of water and went away. And no man knew it, or saw it, or awoke; for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. They both went on till they came to the other side, and stood on a hill afar off. Then David called aloud to Abner, the captain of Saul’s army, and said: “Wilt thou not answer, Abner? Art thou not a man? Why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? And now where is the king’s spear, and the cup of water which was at his head?”
At these words Saul awoke from his sleep and cried out: “Is this thy voice, my son David?” And David answered: “It is my voice, my lord the king. Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What have I done?” Saul, feeling his own injustice, exclaimed: “I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life has been precious in thy eyes this day. Blessed art thou, my son David.” Then they parted in peace.
A short time after this there was a battle fought between the Israelites and the Philistines on Mount Gelboe[3]. A great number of the Israelites were slain, and amongst them the three sons of Saul. At last the whole weight of the fight turned upon Saul; the archers overtook him and grievously wounded him.
Seeing himself surrounded by the enemy, who wished to take him alive, he drew his sword and fell upon it[4]. David was thus delivered from his mortal enemy; yet so far from rejoicing at his
- ↑ Who shall. He meant that nobody could kill the king, the anointed of the Lord, without committing a grievous sin.
- ↑ Take the spear. David took them with him, so as to prove to the king that he had been inside his tent and could have killed him, had he wished to do so. When Saul had acknowledged his injustice. David sent him back the spear and cup.
- ↑ Mount Gelboe. The mountain in which the brook Kison takes its rise. It is south of Naim (see Map).
- ↑ Fell upon it. So that it pierced his body, and he died in a few moments. The Philistines found his corpse and cut off his head, which they sent, with his weapons, to their country. The head of the king was set up by his enemies as a token of their victory. How humiliating was the end of Saul!
