Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
New Life Version
1 Samuel 26:4
David sent out spies and learned that Saul was coming for sure.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come.
So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come.
Hebrew Names Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha'ul was come of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha'ul was come of a certainty.
King James Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
Lexham English Bible
David sent spies, and he learned that Saul had come for certain.
David sent spies, and he learned that Saul had come for certain.
English Standard Version
David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
New Century Version
he sent out spies and learned for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
he sent out spies and learned for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.
New English Translation
David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.
David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.
Amplified Bible
David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.
David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.
New American Standard Bible
David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.
David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(For Dauid had sent out spies, and vnderstood, that Saul was come in very deede)
(For Dauid had sent out spies, and vnderstood, that Saul was come in very deede)
Legacy Standard Bible
So David sent out spies and knew that Saul was certainly coming.
So David sent out spies and knew that Saul was certainly coming.
Contemporary English Version
he sent some spies to find out if it was true.
he sent some spies to find out if it was true.
Complete Jewish Bible
So David dispatched spies and determined that Sha'ul had definitely come.
So David dispatched spies and determined that Sha'ul had definitely come.
Darby Translation
David sent out spies, and learned that Saul was certainly come.
David sent out spies, and learned that Saul was certainly come.
Easy-to-Read Version
So David sent out spies to know for certain that Saul had come after him again.
So David sent out spies to know for certain that Saul had come after him again.
George Lamsa Translation
David therefore sent out spies, and learned that Saul had come after him.
David therefore sent out spies, and learned that Saul had come after him.
Good News Translation
he sent spies and found out that Saul was indeed there.
he sent spies and found out that Saul was indeed there.
Literal Translation
And David sent spies, and he knew that Saul had certainly come to Nachon.
And David sent spies, and he knew that Saul had certainly come to Nachon.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
he sent out spyes, and knewe of a suertie, that he was come in dede.
he sent out spyes, and knewe of a suertie, that he was come in dede.
American Standard Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
Bible in Basic English
And so David sent out watchers, and got word from them that Saul was certainly coming.
And so David sent out watchers, and got word from them that Saul was certainly coming.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Dauid therefore sent out spies, & vnderstoode that Saul was come in very deede.
Dauid therefore sent out spies, & vnderstoode that Saul was come in very deede.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
King James Version (1611)
Dauid therefore sent out spies, and vnderstood that Saul was come in very deed.
Dauid therefore sent out spies, and vnderstood that Saul was come in very deed.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David sent spies, and ascertained that Saul was come prepared out of Keila.
And David sent spies, and ascertained that Saul was come prepared out of Keila.
English Revised Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
Berean Standard Bible
David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.
David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Dauid sente aspieris, and lernede moost certeynli, that Saul hadde come thidur.
and Dauid sente aspieris, and lernede moost certeynli, that Saul hadde come thidur.
Young's Literal Translation
and David sendeth spies, and knoweth that Saul hath come unto Nachon,
and David sendeth spies, and knoweth that Saul hath come unto Nachon,
Update Bible Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul came of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul came of a certainty.
Webster's Bible Translation
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had come in very deed.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had come in very deed.
World English Bible
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
New King James Version
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.
New Living Translation
he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul's arrival.
he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul's arrival.
New Revised Standard
David sent out spies, and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.
David sent out spies, and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
David therefore sent runners, - and took knowledge that Saul had come, for a certainty.
David therefore sent runners, - and took knowledge that Saul had come, for a certainty.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He sent spies, and learned that he was most certainly come thither.
He sent spies, and learned that he was most certainly come thither.
Revised Standard Version
David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come.
David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come.
THE MESSAGE
Obsessed with a Single Flea Some Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Did you know that David is hiding out on the Hakilah Hill just opposite Jeshimon?" Saul was on his feet in a minute and on his way to the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand of his best men, the pick of the crop, to hunt for David in that wild desert. He camped just off the road at the Hakilah Hill, opposite Jeshimon. David, still out in the backcountry, knew Saul had come after him. He sent scouts to determine his precise location. Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had set up camp and saw for himself where Saul and Abner, son of Ner, his general, were staying. Saul was safely inside the camp, encircled by the army. Taking charge, David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother: "Who will go down with me and enter Saul's camp?" Abishai whispered, "I'll go with you." So David and Abishai entered the encampment by night, and there he was—Saul, stretched out asleep at the center of the camp, his spear stuck in the ground near his head, with Abner and the troops sound asleep on all sides. Abishai said, "This is the moment! God has put your enemy in your grasp. Let me nail him to the ground with his spear. One hit will do it, believe me; I won't need a second!" But David said to Abishai, "Don't you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on God 's anointed and even think of getting away with it?" He went on, "As God lives, either God will strike him, or his time will come and he'll die in bed, or he'll fall in battle, but God forbid that I should lay a finger on God 's anointed. Now, grab the spear at his head and the water jug and let's get out of here." David took the spear and water jug that were right beside Saul's head, and they slipped away. Not a soul saw. Not a soul knew. No one woke up! They all slept through the whole thing. A blanket of deep sleep from God had fallen on them. Then David went across to the opposite hill and stood far away on the top of the mountain. With this safe distance between them, he shouted across to the army and Abner son of Ner, "Hey, Abner! How long do I have to wait for you to wake up and answer me?" Abner said, "Who's calling?" "Aren't you in charge there?" said David. "Why aren't you minding the store? Why weren't you standing guard over your master the king, when a soldier came to kill the king your master? Bad form! As God lives, your life should be forfeit, you and the entire bodyguard. Look what I have—the king's spear and water jug that were right beside his head!" By now, Saul had recognized David's voice and said, "Is that you, my son David?" David said, "Yes, it's me, O King, my master. Why are you after me, hunting me down? What have I done? What crime have I committed? Oh, my master, my king, listen to this from your servant: If God has stirred you up against me, then I gladly offer my life as a sacrifice. But if it's men who have done it, let them be banished from God 's presence! They've expelled me from my rightful place in God 's heritage, sneering, ‘Out of here! Go get a job with some other god!' But you're not getting rid of me that easily; you'll not separate me from God in life or death. The absurdity! The king of Israel obsessed with a single flea! Hunting me down—a mere partridge—out in the hills!" Saul confessed, "I've sinned! Oh, come back, my dear son David! I won't hurt you anymore. You've honored me this day, treating my life as most precious. And I've acted the fool—a moral dunce, a real clown." David answered, "See what I have here? The king's spear. Let one of your servants come and get it. It's God 's business to decide what to do with each of us in regard to what's right and who's loyal. God put your life in my hands today, but I wasn't willing to lift a finger against God 's anointed. Just as I honored your life today, may God honor my life and rescue me from all trouble." Saul said to David, "Bless you, dear son David! Yes, do what you have to do! And, yes, succeed in all you attempt!" Then David went on his way, and Saul went home.
Obsessed with a Single Flea Some Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Did you know that David is hiding out on the Hakilah Hill just opposite Jeshimon?" Saul was on his feet in a minute and on his way to the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand of his best men, the pick of the crop, to hunt for David in that wild desert. He camped just off the road at the Hakilah Hill, opposite Jeshimon. David, still out in the backcountry, knew Saul had come after him. He sent scouts to determine his precise location. Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had set up camp and saw for himself where Saul and Abner, son of Ner, his general, were staying. Saul was safely inside the camp, encircled by the army. Taking charge, David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother: "Who will go down with me and enter Saul's camp?" Abishai whispered, "I'll go with you." So David and Abishai entered the encampment by night, and there he was—Saul, stretched out asleep at the center of the camp, his spear stuck in the ground near his head, with Abner and the troops sound asleep on all sides. Abishai said, "This is the moment! God has put your enemy in your grasp. Let me nail him to the ground with his spear. One hit will do it, believe me; I won't need a second!" But David said to Abishai, "Don't you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on God 's anointed and even think of getting away with it?" He went on, "As God lives, either God will strike him, or his time will come and he'll die in bed, or he'll fall in battle, but God forbid that I should lay a finger on God 's anointed. Now, grab the spear at his head and the water jug and let's get out of here." David took the spear and water jug that were right beside Saul's head, and they slipped away. Not a soul saw. Not a soul knew. No one woke up! They all slept through the whole thing. A blanket of deep sleep from God had fallen on them. Then David went across to the opposite hill and stood far away on the top of the mountain. With this safe distance between them, he shouted across to the army and Abner son of Ner, "Hey, Abner! How long do I have to wait for you to wake up and answer me?" Abner said, "Who's calling?" "Aren't you in charge there?" said David. "Why aren't you minding the store? Why weren't you standing guard over your master the king, when a soldier came to kill the king your master? Bad form! As God lives, your life should be forfeit, you and the entire bodyguard. Look what I have—the king's spear and water jug that were right beside his head!" By now, Saul had recognized David's voice and said, "Is that you, my son David?" David said, "Yes, it's me, O King, my master. Why are you after me, hunting me down? What have I done? What crime have I committed? Oh, my master, my king, listen to this from your servant: If God has stirred you up against me, then I gladly offer my life as a sacrifice. But if it's men who have done it, let them be banished from God 's presence! They've expelled me from my rightful place in God 's heritage, sneering, ‘Out of here! Go get a job with some other god!' But you're not getting rid of me that easily; you'll not separate me from God in life or death. The absurdity! The king of Israel obsessed with a single flea! Hunting me down—a mere partridge—out in the hills!" Saul confessed, "I've sinned! Oh, come back, my dear son David! I won't hurt you anymore. You've honored me this day, treating my life as most precious. And I've acted the fool—a moral dunce, a real clown." David answered, "See what I have here? The king's spear. Let one of your servants come and get it. It's God 's business to decide what to do with each of us in regard to what's right and who's loyal. God put your life in my hands today, but I wasn't willing to lift a finger against God 's anointed. Just as I honored your life today, may God honor my life and rescue me from all trouble." Saul said to David, "Bless you, dear son David! Yes, do what you have to do! And, yes, succeed in all you attempt!" Then David went on his way, and Saul went home.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.
David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.
Contextual Overview
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul got ready and went down to the desert of Ziph. He had 3,000 chosen men of Israel with him, to look for David in the desert of Ziph. 3 Saul stayed on the hill of Hachilah, beside the road east of Jeshimon. And David was staying in the desert. When he saw that Saul came after him in the desert, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul was coming for sure. 5 Then David got ready and came to the place where Saul was staying. He saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. Saul was lying in the center of the tents, and the people were sleeping around him.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Joshua 2:1, Matthew 10:16
Reciprocal: Genesis 42:9 - Ye are spies 1 Samuel 24:15 - deliver
Cross-References
Genesis 13:16
I will make your family after you like the dust of the earth. So if anyone could number the dust of the earth, then he could number your children's children.
I will make your family after you like the dust of the earth. So if anyone could number the dust of the earth, then he could number your children's children.
Genesis 15:5
He took him outside and said, "Now look up into the heavens and add up the stars, if you are able to number them." Then He said to him, "Your children and your children's children will be as many as the stars."
He took him outside and said, "Now look up into the heavens and add up the stars, if you are able to number them." Then He said to him, "Your children and your children's children will be as many as the stars."
Genesis 15:18
The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, "I have given this land to your children and to their children's children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River,
The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, "I have given this land to your children and to their children's children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River,
Genesis 18:18
since Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, because good will come to all the nations of the earth through him?
since Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, because good will come to all the nations of the earth through him?
Genesis 26:2
The Lord showed Himself to Isaac, and said, "Do not go to Egypt. Stay in the land I will tell you about.
The Lord showed Himself to Isaac, and said, "Do not go to Egypt. Stay in the land I will tell you about.
Genesis 26:3
Live in this land and I will be with you and bring good to you. For I will give all these lands to you and your children. I will keep the promise I made to your father Abraham.
Live in this land and I will be with you and bring good to you. For I will give all these lands to you and your children. I will keep the promise I made to your father Abraham.
Genesis 26:4
I will make your children and all your children's children as many as the stars of heaven. I will give these lands to them.
I will make your children and all your children's children as many as the stars of heaven. I will give these lands to them.
Genesis 26:8
When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of the window. And he saw Isaac loving his wife Rebekah.
When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of the window. And he saw Isaac loving his wife Rebekah.
Genesis 26:17
So Isaac left that place. He put up his tents in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
So Isaac left that place. He put up his tents in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
Genesis 26:18
And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham. For the Philistines had closed them up after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the same names that his father had given them.
And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham. For the Philistines had closed them up after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the same names that his father had given them.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
David therefore sent out spies,.... To observe if he was coming or come, and where he was, that he might not be surprised by him; for though David knew the Lord was and would be his protection, he thought proper to be upon his guard, and to make use of means for his safety:
and understood that Saul was come in very deed; that he was most certainly come, and come to some certain place; which he himself went to reconnoitre, as in 1 Samuel 26:5.
