AND the Ziyphiym came unto El-Sha'ul to Giv'ah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Chakiylah, which is before Yeshiymon?
Then Sha'ul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziyph, having three thousand chosen men of Yashar'el with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziyph.
And Sha'ul pitched in the hill of Chakiylah, which is before Yeshiymon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Sha'ul came after him into the wilderness.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha'ul was come in very deed.
And David arose, and came to the place where Sha'ul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Sha'ul lay, and Avner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Sha'ul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
Then answered David and said to Achiymelek the Chittiym, and to Aviyshai the son of Tseruyah, brother to Yo'av, saying, Who will go down with me to El-Sha'ul to the camp? And Aviyshai said, I will go down with you.
So David and Aviyshai came to the people by night: and, behold, Sha'ul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Avner and the people lay round about him.
Then said Aviyshai to El-David, Elohiym has delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
And David said to Aviyshai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against Yahuah's anointed, and be guiltless?
David said furthermore, As Yahuah lives, Yahuah shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
Yahuah forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against Yahuah's anointed: but, I pray you, take now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Sha'ul's bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awoke: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from Yahuah was fallen upon them.
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space being between them:
And David cried to the people, and to Avner the son of Ner, saying, Answer you not, Avner? Then Avner answered and said, Who are you that cries to the king?
And David said to Avner, Are not you a valiant man? and who is like to you in Yashar'el? wherefore then have you not guarded your adoniy the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your adoniy.
This thing is not good that you have done. As Yahuah lives, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not guarded your adoniy, Yahuah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
And Sha'ul knew David's voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my adoniy, O king.
And he said, Wherefore does my adoniy thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Now therefore, I pray you, let my adoniy the king hear את the words of his servant. If Yahuah have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahuah; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of Yahuah, saying, Go, serve other elohiym.
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of Yahuah: for the king of Yashar'el is come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.
Then said Sha'ul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
Yahuah render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for Yahuah delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against Yahuah's anointed.
And, 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 Yahuah, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
Then Sha'ul said to El-David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail. So David went on his way, and Sha'ul returned to his place.