The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

CHAP. XXVI.

1 Dauid was discouered vnto Saul by the ziphims. 12 Da∣uid taketh awaye Sauls speare, and a pot of water that stode at his head. 21 Saul confesseth his sinne.

1 AGayne the Ziphims came vnto Saul to Gibeáh, saying, * Doeth not Dauid hide* 1.1 hym selfe“ 1.2 in the hill of Hachiláh before“ 1.3 Ieshimón?

2 Then Saul arose, and went downe to the wil∣dernes of Ziph, hauing thre thousanda 1.4 cho∣sen men of Israèl with hym, for to seke Da∣uid in the wildernes of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hyll of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whyche is before Ieshimon by the waye side. Nowe Dauid abode in the wildernes, and he sawe that Saul came after hym into the wildernes.

4 [For Dauid had sent out spies, and vnder∣stode, that Saul was come“ 1.5 in very dede.]

5 Then Dauid arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched, and (when) Dauid behelde the place where Saul lay, and *Ab∣nér* 1.6 the sonne of Ner whyche was his chief captaine, [for Saullay in the forte, and the people pitched round about him.]

6 Then spake Dauid, and sayd to Ahimélech theb 1.7 Hittite, and to Abishái the sonne of Zer¦uiáh, brother toc 1.8 Ioáb, saying, Who will go downe with me to Saul to the hoste? Then Abishái sayd, I will go downe with thee.

7 So Dauid and Abishái came downe to the people by nyght: and beholde, Saullaye sle∣ping within the forte, & his speare did sticke in the grounde at his“ 1.9 head: and Abnér and the people lay rounde about him.

8 ¶ Then sayd Abishái to Dauid, God hathe closed thyne enemie into thine hande thys day: now therefore, I pray thee, let me smite him once with a speare to the earth, and I wil

not smite himd 1.10 againe.

9 And Dauid said to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Destroye him not: for who can lay his hande 1.11 on the Lords anointed, and be giltles?

10 Moreouer Dauid said, As the Lord liueth, ether the Lord shal smite him, or his day shall come to dye, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 descende into battel, and perish.

11 The Lord kepe me from laying mine hand* 1.12 vpon the Lords anointed: but, I pray thee, ta ke now the speare that is at his head, & the pot of water, and let vs go hence.

12 So Dauid toke the speare and the pot of water from Sauls head, and thei gate them away, & no man sawe it, not marked it, uether did any awake, but thei were all a slepe: for” 1.13 the Lord had sent a dead slepe vpon them.

13 Then Dauid went into the other side, and stode on the toppe of an hil a far of, a great space being betwene them.

14 And Dauid cryed to the people, and to Ab∣nér the sonne of Ner, saying,” 1.14 Hearest thou not Abnér? Then Abnér answered, and said, Who art thou that cryest to the King?

15 ¶And Dauid said to Abnér, Artnot thou af 1.15 man? & who is like thee in Israél? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the King? for there came one of the folke in to de∣stroye the King thy lord.

16 This is not wel done of thee: as the Lord li∣ueth, ye are” 1.16 worthy to dye, because ye haue not kept your master the Lords 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & now se where the Kings speare is, ād the pot of water that was at his head.

17 And Saúl knewe Dauids voyce, and said, Is* 1.17 this thy voyce, mysonne Dauid? And Dauid said, It is my voyce, my lord Ô King.

18 And he said, Wherefore doeth my lord thus persecute his seruant? for what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 done? or what euil is in mine hand:

19 Now therefore, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee, let my lord the King heare the wordes of his seruant. If the Lord haue stirred thee vp against me,h 1.18 let him smel the sauour of a sacrifice: but if the children of men (haue done it,) cursed be thei before the Lord: for thei haue cast me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serue otheri 1.19 gods.

20 Now therefore let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the King of Israél is come out to seke a slye, as one wolde hūt a partriche in the moūtaines.

21 Then said Saúl, I haue sinned: come againe, my sonne Dauid: for I wil do thee nomore harme, because my soule wask 1.20 precious in thine eyes this day: beholde, I haue done foolishly, and haue erred excedingly.

22 Thē Dauid answered, and said, Beholde the Kings speare, let one of the yong men come ouer and fet it.

23 And let the Lord rewarde euerie man accor ding to hisl 1.21 righteousnes ād faithfulnes: for the Lord had deliuered thee into (mine) hāds this daie, but I wolde not lay mine hād vpon the Lords anointed.

24 And beholde, like as thy life was muche set by this day in mine eyes: so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lord, that he may deli∣uer me out of all tribulacion.

25 Then Saúl said to Dauid, Blessed art thou, my sonne Dauid: for thou shalt do great things, and also preuaile. So Dauid went his way, and Saúl returned to hism 1.22 place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 23. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.2

  Or, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• “ 1.3

  Or, the Wil∣dernes.
• a 1.4

  That is, of the most skilfull and valiant soldiers.
• “ 1.5

  Or, to a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 teine place.
• * 1.6

  Chap. 14. 50. and 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• b 1.7

  VVho Was a stranger and not an 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• c 1.8

  Who afterward Was Dauides chief captaine.
• “ 1.9

  Or, bilsler.
• d 1.10

  Meaning, he Wolde make him sure at one stro∣ke
• e 1.11

  To Wit, in his owne priuate cause: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kings at Gods appoint ment.
• * 1.12

  2. king 9. 24.
• ” 1.13

  Ebr. the heaue slepe of the lord Was fallen vpon them.
• ” 1.14

  Ebr. answerest.
• f 1.15

  Estemed moste valiāc, and mete to saue the king.
• ” 1.16

  Ebr. sonnes of death.
• * 1.17

  g Hereby it ap∣peareth, that the hypocrite 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dauid a∣gainst his owne 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• h 1.18

  Let his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 towarde vs be pacified by 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• i 1.19

  As muche as laye in thē they compelled him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, be∣cause they forced him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• k 1.20

  Because thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my life this day.
• l 1.21

  Thus he prote∣stech his innocen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 toward Saul, not defending his iustice in the sight of God, in Whose presence none is righteous Psal. 14. 3 & 130. 3.
• m 1.22

  To Gibeáh of Beniamin.