David Again Spares Saul’s Life
1The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
2So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
5Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
7So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.
13Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
22“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
25Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
Daudi Amwacha Sauli Hai Tena
126:1 1Sam 23:19; Za 54; 1Sam 23:24Hao Wazifu wakamwendea Sauli huko Gibea na kusema, “Je, Daudi hakujificha katika kilima cha Hakila, kinachotazamana na Yeshimoni?”
226:2 1Sam 24:2; 13:2Hivyo Sauli akashuka kwenda katika Jangwa la Zifu, akiwa na watu wake 3,000 wa Israeli waliochaguliwa, kumsaka Daudi huko. 326:3 1Sam 12:19Sauli akapiga kambi yake kando ya barabara juu ya kilima cha Hakila kinachotazamana na Yeshimoni, lakini Daudi alikuwa anaishi huko jangwani. Alipoona kuwa Sauli amemfuata huko, 4Daudi akatuma wapelelezi na akapata habari kwa hakika kwamba Sauli alikuwa amewasili.
526:5 1Sam 17:55; 14:50Ndipo Daudi akaondoka, akaenda hadi mahali Sauli alikuwa amepiga kambi. Akaona mahali Sauli na Abneri mwana wa Neri, jemadari wa jeshi, walipokuwa wamelala. Sauli alikuwa amelala ndani ya kambi, jeshi likiwa limemzunguka.
626:6 Mwa 10:15; 2Sam 2:18; 10:10; 16:9; 18:2; 19:21; 23:18; 1Nya 11:20; 19:11; 2:16; Amu 7:10-11Basi Daudi akamuuliza Ahimeleki Mhiti, na Abishai mwana wa Seruya, nduguye Yoabu, akisema, “Ni nani atakayeshuka pamoja nami kambini kwa Sauli?”
Abishai akajibu, “Nitakwenda pamoja nawe.”
7Hivyo Daudi na Abishai wakaenda kwenye jeshi wakati wa usiku, tazama Sauli, alikuwa amelala ndani ya kambi na mkuki wake umekitwa ardhini karibu na kichwa chake. Abneri na askari walikuwa wamelala kumzunguka Sauli.
826:8 1Sam 24:18Abishai akamwambia Daudi, “Leo Mungu amemtia adui yako mikononi mwako. Sasa niruhusu nimchome mpaka ardhini kwa pigo moja la mkuki wangu; sitamchoma mara mbili.”
926:9 Mwa 26:11; 1Sam 9:16; 2Sam 1:14; 19:21; Mao 4:20; 1Sam 24:5Lakini Daudi akamwambia Abishai, “Usimwangamize! Ni nani awezaye kutia mkono juu ya mpakwa mafuta wa Bwana na asiwe na hatia?” 1026:10 Mwa 16:5; 1Sam 25:38; Rum 12:19; Za 37:13; 31:6; 2Sam 1:1; Za 94:1, 2, 23; Mit 20:22; Lk 18:7; Rum 12:19; Ebr 10:30; Ufu 18:8; Kum 31:14; Ay 7:1; 14:5Daudi akasema, “Hakika kama vile Bwana aishivyo, Bwana mwenyewe atampiga; au wakati wake utafika, naye atakufa, au atakwenda vitani na kuangamia. 1126:11 Law 19:8; 1Sam 24:6, 12; Mit 24:29; Rum 12:17, 19; Yak 5:5-11; 1Pet 3:9Lakini Mungu na apishie mbali nisije nikainua mkono juu ya mpakwa mafuta wa Bwana. Sasa chukua huo mkuki na hilo gudulia la maji vilivyo karibu na kichwa chake, tuondoke.”
1226:12 Amu 4:21; Mwa 2:21; Es 6:1; Isa 29:10Hivyo Daudi akachukua huo mkuki na hilo gudulia la maji vilivyokuwa karibu na kichwa cha Sauli, nao wakaondoka. Hakuna yeyote aliyeona au kufahamu habari hii, wala hakuna hata mmoja aliyeamka usingizini. Wote walikuwa wamelala, kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa amewatia kwenye usingizi mzito.
13Kisha Daudi akavuka upande mwingine na kusimama juu ya kilima mahali palipokuwa na nafasi pana kati yao. 14Daudi akalipigia kelele jeshi na Abneri mwana wa Neri, akisema, “Je, Abneri, hutanijibu?”
Abneri akajibu, “Nani wewe umwitaye mfalme?”
15Daudi akasema, “Wewe si ni mtu shujaa? Ni nani aliye kama wewe katika Israeli? Kwa nini basi hukumlinda mfalme bwana wako? Mtu mmoja alikuja kumwangamiza mfalme, bwana wako. 16Ulichokifanya si kizuri. Kwa hakika kama aishivyo Bwana, wewe na watu wako mnastahili kufa, kwa sababu hamkumlinda bwana wenu, mpakwa mafuta wa Bwana. Tazameni hapo mlipo. Uko wapi mkuki wa mfalme na gudulia la maji ambavyo vilikuwa karibu na kichwa chake?”
1726:17 1Sam 24:16Sauli akatambua sauti ya Daudi, na kusema, “Je, hiyo ni sauti yako, Daudi mwanangu?”
Daudi akajibu, “Naam, hiyo ndiyo, bwana wangu mfalme.” 1826:18 Ay 13:23; Yer 37:18; 1Sam 24:9, 11; Za 7:3Pia akaongeza, “Kwa nini bwana wangu anamfuatia mtumishi wake? Nimefanya nini, nalo kosa langu ni lipi nililolifanya niwe na hatia? 1926:19 1Sam 24:9; 2Sam 16:11; Kum 20:16; 2Sam 14:16; 20:19; 21:3; Kum 4:28; 11:28; Za 120:5; Kut 15:17; Kum 4:20; 9:26; Za 106:4, 5; Isa 19:25Sasa mfalme bwana wangu na asikilize maneno ya mtumishi wake. Kama Bwana amekuchochea dhidi yangu, basi yeye na aipokee sadaka yangu. Lakini hata hivyo, kama ni wanadamu waliofanya hivyo, walaaniwe mbele za Bwana! Wao sasa wamenifukuza kutoka sehemu yangu katika urithi wa Bwana wangu wakisema, ‘Nenda ukatumikie miungu mingine.’ 2026:20 1Sam 24:11; 24:14; Yer 4:29; 16:16; Amo 9:3Basi usiache damu yangu imwagike kwenye ardhi mbali na uso wa Bwana. Mfalme wa Israeli ametoka kutafuta kiroboto, kama vile mtu awindavyo kware katika milima.”
2126:21 Kut 9:27; Za 72:14; 1Sam 15:24; 24:17; Hes 22:34; 1Sam 15:24; 24:17; Mt 27:4Ndipo Sauli akasema, “Nimetenda dhambi. Rudi, Daudi mwanangu. Kwa kuwa uliyahesabu maisha yangu kuwa ya thamani leo, sitajaribu kukudhuru tena. Hakika nimetenda kama mpumbavu na nimekosa sana.”
22Daudi akajibu, “Mkuki wa mfalme uko hapa. Mmoja wa vijana wako na avuke kuuchukua. 2326:23 Mwa 16:5; Rut 2:21; Za 62:12; 2Sam 22:21-25; Za 18:20-24; 1Sam 24:18; Mhu 8:12; Isa 3:10-11Bwana humlipa kila mtu kwa ajili ya haki yake na uaminifu wake. Bwana alikutia katika mikono yangu leo, lakini sikuinua mkono wangu juu ya mpakwa mafuta wa Bwana. 2426:24 Za 54:7Kwa hakika kama vile maisha yako yalivyokuwa ya thamani kwangu leo, vivyo hivyo maisha yangu na yawe na thamani kwa Bwana na kuniokoa kutoka taabu zote.”
2526:25 Rut 2:12Ndipo Sauli akamwambia Daudi, “Mwanangu Daudi na ubarikiwe; utafanya mambo makubwa na hakika utashinda.”
Basi Daudi akaenda zake, naye Sauli akarudi nyumbani.
