Study Desk

I beg you, do not let my lord think about this sinful man, Nabal. For he is like his name. Nabal is his name and he is foolish. But I your woman servant did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.

I beg you, forgive the sin of your woman servant. For the Lord will be sure to make my lord a family that will last. Because my lord is fighting the Lord's battles. Sin will not be found in you as long as you live.

Then my lord will have no reason to feel sorry or guilty because of killing without cause or punishing by my lord's own hand. When the Lord does good things for my lord, remember your woman servant."

May thanks be given for your wisdom, and thanks be to you. You have kept me this day from being guilty of blood, and from punishing with my own hand.

The Lord God of Israel has kept me from hurting you. And as the Lord lives, if you had not been quick to come to meet me, for sure not one male would have been left to Nabal until the morning."

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Thanks be to the Lord, Who has punished Nabal for putting me to shame. He has kept His servant from sin. And the Lord has turned the sin of Nabal upon himself." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to be his wife.

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.

David sent out spies and learned that Saul was coming for sure.

But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him. For who can put his hand out against the Lord's chosen one and not be guilty?"

So David took the spear and the bottle of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away. But no one saw it, or knew it, and no one woke, for they were all sleeping. A deep sleep from the Lord had come upon them.

David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why have you not watched over your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.

This thing you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must die for sure. Because you did not watch over your lord, the Lord's chosen one. Now see where the king's spear is, and the bottle of water that was beside his head."

Now I beg you, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has made you come against me, let Him receive a gift. But if men have done this, may bad come to them before the Lord. For they have driven me out this day, that I should have no share of what the Lord has given. They say, ‘Go, worship other gods.'

So do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to look for one little bug, just as one looks for a partridge in the mountains."

Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not hurt you again. Because my life was of great worth in your eyes this day. See, I have played the fool, and have made a big mistake."

The Lord will pay each man for being right and good and faithful. For the Lord gave you into my hand today. But I would not put out my hand against the Lord's chosen one.

David said to himself, "Some day Saul will kill me. There is nothing better for me than to run to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will become tired of looking for me any more in the land of Israel. And I will get away from him."

When Saul was told that David had run to Gath, he looked for him no more.

Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, that I may live there. For why should your servant live with you in the city of the king?"

David lived in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months.