1. And the Ziphim came unto Sha'ul at Giveah, saying, Doth not Dovid hide himself in the hill of Chachilah, which faces Yeshimon?
2. Then Sha'ul arose, and went down to the midbar Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yisroel with him, to search for Dovid in the midbar Ziph.
3. And Sha'ul encamped in the hill of Chachilah, which faces Yeshimon, beside the derech (road). But Dovid stayed in the midbar, and he saw that Sha'ul came after him into the midbar.
4. Dovid therefore sent out scouts, and understood that Sha'ul had indeed come.
5. And Dovid arose, and came to the makom where Sha'ul had encamped; and Dovid beheld the makom where Sha'ul lay down, and Avner Ben Ner, the sar of his tzava (army); and Sha'ul was lying in the camp, and HaAm encamped round about him.
6. Then answered Dovid and said to Achimelech the Chitti, and to Avishai Ben Tzeruyah, achi Yoav, saying, Who will go down with me to Sha'ul to the machaneh? And Avishai said, I will go down with thee.
7. So Dovid and Avishai came to HaAm by lailah; and, hinei, Sha'ul lay sleeping within the camp, and his khanit (spear) stuck in the ground at his head; but Avner and HaAm lay round about him.
8. Then said Avishai to Dovid, Elohim hath delivered thine oyev into thine yad today; now therefore let me strike him, now, with the khanit, pinning him to the ground once; I will not strike him the second time.
9. And Dovid said to Avishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his yad against Hashem's moshiach, and be guiltless?
10. Dovid said furthermore, As Hashem liveth, Hashem shall strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into milchamah, and perish.
11. Chalilah (far be it) from me by Hashem that I should stretch forth mine yad against Hashem's moshiach; but, take now thou the khanit (spear) that is at his head, and the flask of mayim, and let us go.
12. So Dovid took the khanit and the flask of mayim from near Sha'ul's head; and they got them away, and no one saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep; because a tardamat Hashem was fallen upon them.
13. Then Dovid went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the har afar off; a great space being between them;
14. And Dovid called out to the people, and to Avner Ben Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Avner? Then Avner answered and said, Who art thou that calls out to HaMelech?