3. David's goodness to two fools ch. 24-26

". . . chapters 24-26 form a discrete literary unit within 1 Samuel. Chapters 24 and 26 are virtually mirror images of each other, beginning with Saul's receiving a report about David's latest hiding place (24:1; 26:1), focusing on David's refusal to lift a hand against Saul, the Lord's anointed' (24:6, 10; 26:11), and concluding with the words of a remorseful Saul and his returning home from his pursuit of David (24:17-22; 26:21, 25). The two chapters form a frame around the central chapter 25, where the churlish Nabal functions as an alter ego of the rejected Saul. In addition, divine protection that keeps David from shedding innocent blood runs as a unifying thread through all three chapters."²³⁷

Saul, who had disregarded God's Law, became a deadly threat to David (23:19-28). However, David, who regarded God's Law, became a source of life to Saul (23:29-24:22) and to others in Israel (ch. 25).

In the previous section, Saul sought the opportunity to take David's life. In this one (23:29-24:22), given the opportunity to take Saul's life, David spared him.

 David's first sparing of Saul's life ch. 24

The incident recorded in this chapter concerns cutting off (vv. 4, 5, 11, 21). David had the opportunity and received encouragement to cut off Saul's life but chose to cut off only his robe hem. He ended up promising not to cut off Saul's descendants and name.

"The verb cut off' forms something of a recurring theme, a leit-motiv, in 1 Samuel 20-24."²³⁸

 David's sparing of Nabal's life ch. 25

"Chapter 25 is the central panel in the triptych that comprises chapters 24-26. As such it not only anchors the literary unit but also facilitates the fact that chapters 24 and 26 mirror each other."²⁴⁴

This central chapter also has a chiastic structure that focuses attention on Abigail's effective appeal to David.

"A.Samuel dies (v. 1a).

B.David the fugitive is in the vicinity of the wealthy Nabal and his beautiful wife Abigail (vv. 1b-3).

C.Hearing of Nabal's situation and later rebuffed by him, David prepares to avenge the insult (vv. 4-13).

D.Abigail prepares food to take to David (vv. 14-19).

E.David meets Abigail (vv. 20-35).

D'.Abigail returns home to find Nabal gorging himself on food (vv. 36-38).

C'.Hearing of Nabal's death, David praises the Lord for having upheld his cause against Nabal (v. 39a).

B'.David the fugitive has taken the beautiful Abigail as his second wife (vv. 39b-43).

A'.Saul treats David as though he were dead (v. 44)."²⁴⁵

 David's second sparing of Saul's life ch. 26

Again the scene shifts to Saul (cf. ch. 24). The writer contrasted his improper attitudes and behavior and their consequences with David's proper attitudes and behavior and their consequences. There are many similarities between this chapter and chapter 24, which records David's sparing of Saul's life in the cave of Adullam. Perhaps the most significant difference is that in chapter 24 David was on the defensive whereas in chapter 26 he was on the offensive. Chapter 26 is the third and final episode in the mini-section on David's treatment of two fools: Saul and Nabal. A prominent theme in this pericope is David's learning 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)."²⁶²