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DAVID SPARES SAUL THE SECOND TIME

I Samuel 26:1-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    SAUL PURSUES DAVID AGAIN (I Sam. 26:1-3a)

ii.                  DAVID PURSUES SAUL (I Sam. 26:3b-5)

iii.                DAVID POSITIONS HIMSELF BY SAUL’S CAMP (I Sam. 26:6-7)

iv.                DAVID PROTECTS SAUL (I Sam. 26:8-11a)

v.                  DAIVID PROCURES SAUL’S SPEAR AND WATER (I Sam. 26:11b-12)

 

2.      Who told Saul where David was hiding? (I Sam. 26:1).

 

And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying…

 

A.    The Ziphites

 

B.      This is the second time that the Ziphites have come to Saul to reveal David’s whereabouts to him (See I Sam. 23:19).

 

3.      Where did they say David was? (I Sam. 26:1).

 

…Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

 

A.    The hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon

 

 

See the source image

 

4.      T – F    Saul had no interest in finding David. (I Sam. 26:2)

 

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph…

 

A.    False.  He went to find David again.

 

B.      Saul’s plans to kill David had been foiled several times. 

1.      Saul may have stalled out of frustration.

2.      When news came again, he was convinced that he could find David this time.

 

5.      How many men did Saul take with him to find David? (I Sam. 26:2)

 

…having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

 

A.    3,000 men  This was the same number of men who were with him previously.

 

B.      Some commentators, like Barnes, believe this to be the same incident that was related in the previous chapter with just additional details given.  The facts reported, however, are much too different to be the same account.

 

6.      T – F    David was not aware that Saul was after him in the wilderness. (I Sam. 26:3)

 

But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

 

A.    False

 

B.      David did not return to his home after the previous meeting between him and Saul.  He was wise.  He knew Saul’s anger and envy could easily manifest itself again.

 

7.      Who did David send out to confirm that Saul was come out “in very deed”? (I Sam. 26:4)

 

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

 

A.    Spies

 

B.      David’s first knowledge about Saul’s pursuit may have been from a messenger who came out to him.  In order to confirm the words, he sent out spies to determine Saul’s precise location.

 

8.      When David came to Saul’s camp, what other person did he see? (I Sam. 26:5)

 

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched:  and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host…

 

A.    Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of Saul’s host

 

B.      One of the responsibilities of the captain of the host is to protect his commander.

 

9.      Where was Saul laying? (I Sam. 26:5)

 

…and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

 

A.    In the trench

 

10.  To whom did David ask this question:  “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” (I Sam. 26:6)

 

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying…

 

A.    Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab

 

B.      Abishai was David’s nephew, the son of David’s sister (I Chron. 2:16).  He was one of three who would become the chief men of David (See II Sam. 23:18).

 

11.  Which man said that he would go with David? (I Sam. 26:6)

 

…And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

 

A.    Abishai

 

12.  When did they go into Saul’s camp? (I Sam. 26:7)

 

So David and Abishai came to the people by night…

 

A.    By night

 

13.  What was Saul doing when they entered the camp? (I Sam. 26:7)

 

…and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench…

 

A.    He was sleeping in the trench

 

14.  Where was Saul’s spear? (I Sam. 26:7)

 

…and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster, but Abner and the people lay round about.

 

A.    It was stuck in the ground at his bolster (headrest or pillow)

 

B.      It was placed near for quick access if needed.  (NOTE:  Much like the place where many put their cell phones when they go to bed at night).

 

C.     Question:  Does something seem strange about this situation?  The king was asleep.  The captian was asleep.  All the people were asleep.  Where were the guards? 

 

15.  What two things did Abishai say to David when they found Saul asleep? (I Sam. 26:8)

 

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day:  now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once…

 

A.    The Lord had delivered Saul into David’s hand

 

B.      He requested to be the one to smite Saul with the spear

 

16.  T – F    Abishia was sure he could kill Saul with one blow. (I Sam. 26:8)

 

…and I will not smite him the second time.

 

A.    True

 

17.  “And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not…” (I Sam. 26:9)

 

18.  Why wouldn’t David allow Abishai kill Saul? (I Sam. 26:9)

 

…for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed…

 

A.    Because Saul was the Lord’s anointed

 

B.      Regardless of the ruthlessness of Saul, David continues to maintain respect for Saul as the Lord’s anointed. 

 

19.  T- F      If a person killed the Lord’s anointed, he would be guiltless. (I Sam. 26:9)

 

…for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless.

 

A.    False

 

B.      Guiltless means to be “empty, pure, innocent, free, clear.”

 

20.  What were the three ways David believed Saul could possibly die? (I Sam. 26:10)

 

David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

 

A.    The Lord shall smite him

 

B.      His day shall come to die

 

C.     He shall descend into battle, and perish

 

21.  “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s  anointed” (I Sam. 26:11)

 

22.  Before they left the camp, what two things did David instruct Abishai to take? (I Sam. 26:11)

 

…but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

 

A.    The spear

 

B.      The cruse of water

 

23.  T – F    As David and Abishai left the camp, some of Saul’s troops who heard them.

(I Sam. 26:12)

 

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awakened…

 

A.    False

 

24.  Why didn’t anyone in the camp hear David and Abishai? (I Sam. 26:12)

 

…for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

 

A.    They were asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord was upon them.

 

B.      The words “deep sleep” is the same word found in Genesis 2:21 and also translated “deep sleep.”

 

And the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept…

 

C.     God was with David.  It explains why there were no guards watching over the camp at the time.  If they were, they, too, were asleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID SPARES SAUL THE SECOND TIME (2)

I Samuel 26:13-25

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

vi.                I SAMUEL 26:13

vii.              I SAMUEL 26:14-16

viii.            I SAMUEL 26:17-25a

ix.                I SAMUEL 26:25b

 

2.      After David left Saul’s camp, where did he go? (I Sam. 26:13)

 

3.      T – F    There was only a small distance between David and Saul. (I Sam. 26:13)

 

4.      To whom did David call first? (I Sam. 26:14)

 

5.      T – F    Abner immediately recognized the voice of David? (I Sam. 26:14)

 

6.      What three questions did David ask Abner? (I Sam. 26:15)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

7.      Why did David charge Abner with not keeping the king? (I Sam. 26:15)

 

8.      “This thing is not ________________ that thou hast done” (I Sam. 26:16).

 

9.      Because Abner had not kept the king, what was he worthy of? (I Sam. 26:16)

 

10.  To prove someone had been in the camp, what was Abner exhorted to see if they were there? (I Sam. 26:16)

 

11.  Who recognized David’s voice? (I Sam. 26:17)

 

12.  What two questions did David ask Saul? (I Sam. 26:18)

 

A.

 

B.

 

13.  Which two people could have stirred up Saul against David? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

A.

 

B.

 

14.  If the Lord had stirred up Saul, what would David give him? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

15.  If the children of men had stirred up Saul, what did David speak upon them? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

16.  What had David been kept from dwelling in? (I Sam. 26:19)

 

17.  “Now therefore, let not my ___________________ fall to the earth before the face of the Lord” (I Sam. 26:20)

 

18.  David said that Saul came out to “seek a ______________” (I Sam. 26:20)

 

19.  What kind of a hunt did he compare Saul’s hunt for David to? (I Sam. 26:20)

 

20.  T – F    When Saul heard David’s words, he confessed his sins. (I Sam. 26:21)

 

21.  T – F    He promised that he would no longer harm David. (I Sam. 26:21)

 

22.  What did Saul say had been precious in David’s eyes? (I Sam. 26:21)

 

23.  “…behold, I have played the _____________, and have ___________ exceedingly” (I Sam. 26:21).

 

24.  What did David want to return to the king? (I Sam. 26:22)

 

25.  Who did David want to come and get Saul’s spear? (I Sam. 26:22)

 

26.  What two things does David say the Lord rewards? (I Sam. 26:23)

 

A.

 

B.

 

27.  Since David had spared Saul’s life, what did he ask Saul to do? (I Sam. 26:24)

 

28.  T – F    Before Saul departed, he cursed David one final time. (I Sam. 26:25)

 

29.  What two things did Saul say David would do? (I Sam. 26:25)

 

A.

 

B.

 

30.  Where did the David and Saul go after having their conversation? (I Sam. 26:25)

 

A.    David: 

 

B.      Saul: