1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 101records David sparing Saul's life in the cave of Adullam. Perhaps the most significantdifference is that in chapter 24 David was on the defensive whereas in chapter 26 he wason the offensive. Chapter 26 is the third and final episode in the mini-section on David'streatment of two fools: Saul and Nabal. A prominent theme in this pericope is David'slearning to trust God to repay his enemies rather than taking vengeance himself.The general structure of the chapter is chiastic."A. Saul searches for David, who then responds (vv. 1-5).B. David keeps his man Abishai from killing Saul (vv. 6-12).B'. David rebukes Saul's man Abner for not protecting Saul(vv. 13-16).A'. Saul talks to David, who then responds (vv. 17-25)." 286Saul's encampment near the hill of Hachilah 26:1-5The Ziphites betrayed David a second time (cf. 23:19). David was again hiding by the hillof Hachilah (23:19). When Saul came down from Gibeah with his 3,000 (or three militaryunits of) soldiers, he camped near the main road. David had only 600 men (23:13; 25:13).David evidently stayed on the other side of the hill (v. 3). Perhaps he went up on the hillat night to survey Saul's encampment and there spotted Saul and Abner in the middle ofthe camp (v. 5). Saul should have been very secure surrounded as he was by his men, butreally he was very vulnerable (cf. v. 12).Abishai's offer to kill Saul 26:6-12Ahimelech the Hittite may have been a foreign mercenary (cf. Uriah the Hittite, 2 Sam.11:3). The writer may have mentioned him to show the extent of David's appeal. Abishaiwas David's nephew, one of the sons of his sister Zeruiah (cf. 1 Chron. 2:15-16). Joab,who later became David's commander-in-chief, was Abishai's brother.Saul had used his spear to attack David three times (cf. 18:10; 19:9-10; 20:33). It was,therefore, an instrument of death. It was also the symbol of Saul's rule similar to a scepter(cf. 22:6). Abishai's viewpoint was carnal. He concluded that because God had givenDavid the upper hand he should use it to do away with his rival (v. 8; cf. 24:4). David hadused similar words when he promised to kill Goliath (cf. 17:46) as had Saul in describinghow he would kill David with his spear (cf. 18:11).David believed, however, that since God had anointed Saul it was not his place to do himharm (v. 9; cf. 24:6-7). His reply to Abishai begins (v. 9) and ends (v. 11) with the reasonDavid would not permit Abishai to kill Saul: he was the Lord's anointed. In the middle ofthis reply David mentioned alternative ways by which God might terminate Saul's life (v.10). He might die from some physical affliction, as Nabal had (cf. 25:38), or of naturalcauses, or in battle (cf. ch. 31). David reminded Abishai that God could deal with Saulwithout their help.286 Youngblood, p. 767.