1 Shamu'al 26

And the Ziphites came unto Shaul to Gibeah, saying, "Doth not Dawid hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Yeshimon?"

Then Shaul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yashar'al with him, to seek Dawid in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Shaul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Yeshimon, by the way. But Dawid abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Shaul came after him into the wilderness.

Dawid therefore sent out spies, and understood that Shaul was come in very deed.

And Dawid arose, and came to the place where Shaul had pitched: and Dawid beheld the place where Shaul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Shaul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

Then answered Dawid and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Yoab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Shaul to the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with thee."

So Dawid and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Shaul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

Then said Abishai to Dawid, "Alahiym 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."

And Dawid said to Abishai, "Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄's anointed, and be guiltless?"

Dawid said furthermore, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 liveth, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish."

"𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄'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."

So Dawid took the spear and the cruse of water from Shaul's bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 was fallen upon them.

Then Dawid went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space being between them:

And Dawid 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?"

And Dawid said to Abner, "Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Yashar'al? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy adun the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy adun."

"This thing is not good that thou hast done. As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your adun, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster."

And Shaul knew Dawid's voice, and said, "Is this thy voice, my son Dawid?" And Dawid said, "It is my voice, my adun, O king."

And he said, "Wherefore doth my adun thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?"

"Now therefore, I pray thee, let my adun the king hear the words of his servant. If 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, saying, Go, serve other lo alahiym."

"Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄: for the king of Yashar'al is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains."

Then said Shaul, "I have sinned: return, my son Dawid: 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."

And Dawid answered and said, "Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it."

"𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 delivered thee into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄's anointed."

"And, 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 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation."

Then Shaul said to Dawid, "Blessed be thou, my son Dawid: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail." So Dawid went on his way, and Shaul returned to his place.