1 Samuel 26:8 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“Then said Abishai to David, God 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. {delivered: Heb. shut up}”

1 Samuel 26:8

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul 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 David, God 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. {delivered: Heb. shut up}

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

David said furthermore, {As} the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

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1 Samuel 26:1

"And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, {which is} before Jeshimon?"

1 Samuel 26:2

"Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph."

1 Samuel 26:3

"And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which {is} before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness."

1 Samuel 26:4

"David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed."

1 Samuel 26:5

"And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. {trench: or, midst of his carriages}"

1 Samuel 26:6

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

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