Βασιλειῶν Αʹ 26

1 καὶ ἔρχονται οἱ Ζιφαῖοι ἐκ τῆς αὐχμώδους πρὸς τὸν Σαουλ εἰς τὸν βουνὸν λέγοντες ἰδοὺ Δαυιδ σκεπάζεται μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ βουνῷ τοῦ Εχελα τοῦ κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ Ιεσσαιμουν

One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”

2 καὶ ἀνέστη Σαουλ καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὴν ἔρημον Ζιφ καὶ μετ’ αὐτοῦ τρεῖς χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν ἐκλεκτοὶ ἐξ Ισραηλ ζητεῖν τὸν Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Ζιφ

So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.

3 καὶ παρενέβαλεν Σαουλ ἐν τῷ βουνῷ τοῦ Εχελα ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ Ιεσσαιμουν ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ καὶ Δαυιδ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ εἶδεν Δαυιδ ὅτι ἥκει Σαουλ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν ἔρημον

Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,

4 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ κατασκόπους καὶ ἔγνω ὅτι ἥκει Σαουλ ἕτοιμος ἐκ Κεϊλα

he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.

5 καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ λάθρᾳ καὶ εἰσπορεύεται εἰς τὸν τόπον οὗ ἐκάθευδεν ἐκεῖ Σαουλ καὶ ἐκεῖ Αβεννηρ υἱὸς Νηρ ἀρχιστράτηγος αὐτοῦ καὶ Σαουλ ἐκάθευδεν ἐν λαμπήνῃ καὶ ὁ λαὸς παρεμβεβληκὼς κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ

Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.

6 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Αχιμελεχ τὸν Χετταῖον καὶ πρὸς Αβεσσα υἱὸν Σαρουιας ἀδελφὸν Ιωαβ λέγων τίς εἰσελεύσεται μετ’ ἐμοῦ πρὸς Σαουλ εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσα ἐγὼ εἰσελεύσομαι μετὰ σοῦ

David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”

7 καὶ εἰσπορεύεται Δαυιδ καὶ Αβεσσα εἰς τὸν λαὸν τὴν νύκτα καὶ ἰδοὺ Σαουλ καθεύδων ὕπνῳ ἐν λαμπήνῃ καὶ τὸ δόρυ ἐμπεπηγὸς εἰς τὴν γῆν πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ Αβεννηρ καὶ ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐκάθευδεν κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ

So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.

8 καὶ εἶπεν Αβεσσα πρὸς Δαυιδ ἀπέκλεισεν σήμερον κύριος τὸν ἐχθρόν σου εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου καὶ νῦν πατάξω αὐτὸν τῷ δόρατι εἰς τὴν γῆν ἅπαξ καὶ οὐ δευτερώσω αὐτῷ

Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”

9 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αβεσσα μὴ ταπεινώσῃς αὐτόν ὅτι τίς ἐποίσει χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ ἀθῳωθήσεται

But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.

10 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ζῇ κύριος ἐὰν μὴ κύριος παίσῃ αὐτόν ἢ ἡ ἡμέρα αὐτοῦ ἔλθῃ καὶ ἀποθάνῃ ἢ εἰς πόλεμον καταβῇ καὶ προστεθῇ

Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.

11 μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ νῦν λαβὲ δὴ τὸ δόρυ ἀπὸ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν φακὸν τοῦ ὕδατος καὶ ἀπέλθωμεν καθ’ ἑαυτούς

But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”

12 καὶ ἔλαβεν Δαυιδ τὸ δόρυ καὶ τὸν φακὸν τοῦ ὕδατος ἀπὸ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπῆλθον καθ’ ἑαυτούς καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ βλέπων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ γινώσκων καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἐξεγειρόμενος πάντες ὑπνοῦντες ὅτι θάμβος κυρίου ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ’ αὐτούς

So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.

13 καὶ διέβη Δαυιδ εἰς τὸ πέραν καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ τὴν κορυφὴν τοῦ ὄρους μακρόθεν καὶ πολλὴ ἡ ὁδὸς ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν

David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.

14 καὶ προσεκαλέσατο Δαυιδ τὸν λαὸν καὶ τῷ Αβεννηρ ἐλάλησεν λέγων οὐκ ἀποκριθήσει Αβεννηρ καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Αβεννηρ καὶ εἶπεν τίς εἶ σὺ ὁ καλῶν με

Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”

15 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Αβεννηρ οὐκ ἀνὴρ σύ καὶ τίς ὡς σὺ ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ διὰ τί οὐ φυλάσσεις τὸν κύριόν σου τὸν βασιλέα ὅτι εἰσῆλθεν εἷς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ διαφθεῖραι τὸν βασιλέα κύριόν σου

David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.

16 καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθὸν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ὃ πεποίηκας ζῇ κύριος ὅτι υἱοὶ θανατώσεως ὑμεῖς οἱ φυλάσσοντες τὸν βασιλέα κύριον ὑμῶν τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου καὶ νῦν ἰδὲ δή τὸ δόρυ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ὁ φακὸς τοῦ ὕδατος ποῦ ἐστιν τὰ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ

You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”

17 καὶ ἐπέγνω Σαουλ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν ἦ φωνή σου αὕτη τέκνον Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ δοῦλός σου κύριε βασιλεῦ

[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”

18 καὶ εἶπεν ἵνα τί τοῦτο καταδιώκει ὁ κύριός μου ὀπίσω τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ ὅτι τί ἡμάρτηκα καὶ τί εὑρέθη ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀδίκημα

Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?

19 καὶ νῦν ἀκουσάτω δὴ ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ εἰ ὁ θεὸς ἐπισείει σε ἐπ’ ἐμέ ὀσφρανθείη θυσίας σου καὶ εἰ υἱοὶ ἀνθρώπων ἐπικατάρατοι οὗτοι ἐνώπιον κυρίου ὅτι ἐξέβαλόν με σήμερον μὴ ἐστηρίσθαι ἐν κληρονομίᾳ κυρίου λέγοντες πορεύου δούλευε θεοῖς ἑτέροις

Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’

20 καὶ νῦν μὴ πέσοι τὸ αἷμά μου ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐξ ἐναντίας προσώπου κυρίου ὅτι ἐξελήλυθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ισραηλ ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν μου καθὼς καταδιώκει ὁ νυκτικόραξ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν

Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”

21 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ ἡμάρτηκα ἐπίστρεφε τέκνον Δαυιδ ὅτι οὐ κακοποιήσω σε ἀνθ’ ὧν ἔντιμος ψυχή μου ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἐν τῇ σήμερον μεματαίωμαι καὶ ἠγνόηκα πολλὰ σφόδρα

Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”

22 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ τὸ δόρυ τοῦ βασιλέως διελθέτω εἷς τῶν παιδαρίων καὶ λαβέτω αὐτό

David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.

23 καὶ κύριος ἐπιστρέψει ἑκάστῳ τὰς δικαιοσύνας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν πίστιν αὐτοῦ ὡς παρέδωκέν σε κύριος σήμερον εἰς χεῖράς μου καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησα ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ χριστὸν κυρίου

Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.

24 καὶ ἰδοὺ καθὼς ἐμεγαλύνθη ἡ ψυχή σου σήμερον ἐν ταύτῃ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου οὕτως μεγαλυνθείη ἡ ψυχή μου ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ σκεπάσαι με καὶ ἐξελεῖταί με ἐκ πάσης θλίψεως

Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”

25 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ εὐλογημένος σύ τέκνον καὶ ποιῶν ποιήσεις καὶ δυνάμενος δυνήσει καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Δαυιδ εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ Σαουλ ἀνέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ

Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.