1 Samuel 26:17-25

26:17 When Saul recognized David’s voice, he said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied, “Yes, it’s my voice, my lord the king.” 26:18 He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done? ¹  26:19 So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he take delight in ²  an offering. But if men have instigated this, ³  may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’ 26:20 Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge ⁴  in the hill country.”

26:21 Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you, for you treated my life with value ⁵  this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!” ⁶  26:22 David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it. 26:23 The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. ⁷  Even though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the Lord’s chosen one. 26:24 In the same way that I valued your life this day, ⁸  may the Lord value my life ⁹  and deliver me from all danger.” 26:25 Saul replied to David, “May you be rewarded, ¹⁰  my son David! You will without question be successful!” ¹¹  So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

[26:18]  ¹ tn Heb “What in my hand [is] evil?”

[26:19]  ² tn Heb “may he smell.” The implication is that Saul should seek to appease God, for such divine instigation to evil would a sign of God’s disfavor. For a fuller discussion of this passage see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Deceive?” BSac 155 (1998): 19-21.

[26:19]  ³ tn Heb “but if the sons of men.”

[26:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “the calling [one],” which apparently refers to a partridge.

[26:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “my life was valuable in your eyes.”

[26:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “and I have erred very greatly.”

[26:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “and the Lord returns to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness.”

[26:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “your life was great this day in my eyes.”

[26:24]  ⁹ tn Heb “may my life be great in the eyes of the Lord.”

[26:25]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “blessed.”

[26:25]  ¹¹ tn Heb “you will certainly do and also you will certainly be able.” The infinitive absolutes placed before the finite verbal forms lend emphasis to the statement.