1. And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does David not hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
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.
3. And Saul pitched camp in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the wilderness by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he perceived that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4. David, therefore, sent out spies and understood that Saul was indeed come.
5. And David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched camp, 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.
6. Then David spoke 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.
7. 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 head, but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8. Then Abishai said to David, God has delivered thy enemy into thy hand today; now, therefore, let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear and pin him to the earth at once, and I will not need a second opportunity.
9. And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him, for who has stretched forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and remained innocent?
10. David said furthermore, As the Lord lives, if the Lord does not smite him or his day comes to die or he descends into battle and perishes,
11. the Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his head and the cruse of water and let us go.
12. So David took the spear and the cruse of water that were at Saul’s head, and they went, and no one saw it nor knew it neither awaked, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
13. Then David went over to the other side and stood out of the way on the top of the mountain, a great space being between them;