David slips into Saul’s sleeping camp by night, lifts the spear from beside the king’s head, and walks away. 1 Samuel 26 is the second chapter in which David refuses to kill the man hunting him - a deliberate night infiltration of a three-thousand-man army, witnessed and announced from the ridge above.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

And David said, Surely the LORD has delivered Saul into my hand Behold, he is in the wilderness, I know surely that you will be king And that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand

Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring After me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house And David sware to Saul

And Saul went to his house but David and his men got them up to the stronghold And the Ziphim came to Saul to Gibeah saying Does not David hide himself with us in the stronghold in the wilderness Of Horesh in the hill of Hachilah which is on the south of Jeshimon

Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul And our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand And Saul said, Blessed are you of the LORD For you have had compassion on me

Go, I pray you, prepare yet and know and see his place Where his haunt is and who has seen him there For it is told me that he deals very subtly And see all the lurking places where he hides himself

So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon In the plain on the south of Jeshimon And Saul and his men went to seek him

And they told David therefore and he went down to the rock And dwelt in the wilderness of Maon And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David In the wilderness of Maon

And Saul went on this side of the mountain And David and his men on that side of the mountain And David was hurrying to get away from the face of Saul For Saul and his men were circling David and his men to capture them

But a messenger came to Saul saying, Haste and come For the Philistines have invaded the land So Saul returned from pursuing after David

And went against the Philistines Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth

Listen

1 Samuel 26 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press