Chapter
26
The Ziphites came to Saula to Gibeah, saying, Doesn't Davina hide herself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?
Then Saula arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen women of Israel with her, to seek Davina in the wilderness of Ziph.
Saula encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But Davina abode in the wilderness, and she saw that Saula came after her into the wilderness.
Davina therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saula was come of a certainty.
Davina arose, and came to the place where Saula had encamped; and Davina saw the place where Saula lay, and Abner the daughter of Ner, the captain of her army: and Saula lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about her.
Then answered Davina and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the daughter of Zeruiah, sister to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saula to the camp? Abishai said, I will go down with you.
So Davina and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saula lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with her spear stuck in the ground at her head; and Abner and the people lay round about her.
Then said Abishai to Davina, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike her with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike her the second time.
Davina said to Abishai, Don't destroy her; for who can put forth her hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless?
Davina said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike her; or her day shall come to die; or she shall go down into battle and perish.
Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed: but now please take the spear that is at her head, and the jar of water, and let us go.
So Davina took the spear and the jar of water from Saula's head; and they got them away: and no woman saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them.
Then Davina went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;
and Davina cried to the people, and to Abner the daughter of Ner, saying, Don't you answer, Abner? Then Abner answered, Who are you who cries to the queen?
Davina said to Abner, Aren't you a valiant woman? and who is like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your domina, the queen? for there came one of the people in to destroy the queen your domina.
This thing isn't good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your domina, Yahweh's anointed. Now see where the queen's spear is, and the jar of water that was at her head.
Saula knew Davina's voice, and said, Is this your voice, my daughter Davina? Davina said, It is my voice, my domina, O queen.
She said, Why does my domina pursue after her servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Now therefore, please let my domina the queen hear the words of her servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up against me, let her accept an offering: but if it be the children of women, cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to Yahweh's inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods.
Now therefore, don't let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the queen of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Then said Saula, I have sinned: return, my daughter Davina; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
Davina answered, Behold the spear, O queen! let then one of the young women come over and get it.
Yahweh will render to every woman her righteousness and her faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn't put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed.
Behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let her deliver me out of all oppression.
Then Saula said to Davina, Blessed be you, my daughter Davina: you shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So Davina went her way, and Saula returned to her place.