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大卫在隐.基底不伤扫罗

24 扫罗追赶非利士人回来的时候,有人告诉他说:“看哪,大卫在隐.基底的旷野。”(本节在《马索拉文本》为24:2) 扫罗就从以色列人中选出三千精兵,带领他们到野羊盘石去搜索大卫和跟随他的人。 到了路旁的羊圈,那里有一个洞,扫罗进去大解;那时,大卫和跟随他的人正坐在洞里的深处。 跟随大卫的人对他说:“耶和华曾应许你说:‘我要把你的仇敌交在你的手里,你可以随意待他。’看哪!今天就是时候了。”于是大卫起来,悄悄地割下扫罗外袍的衣边。 事后,大卫为了割下扫罗的衣边,心中自责, 就对跟随他的人说:“我在耶和华面前绝对不能这样对待我主耶和华的受膏者,我绝对不能动手攻击他,因为他是耶和华的受膏者。” 大卫用这些话阻止了跟随他的人,不让他们起来攻击扫罗。扫罗起来,出了山洞,继续走他的路去了。

大卫向扫罗表白

随后,大卫也起来,离开了山洞,在扫罗背后呼叫,说:“我主!我王!”扫罗回头向后看的时候,大卫就脸伏于地,向他叩拜。 大卫对扫罗说:“你为甚么听信人的话,说:‘大卫想要害你’呢? 10 现在你亲眼看到,今天耶和华在山洞里,把你交在我手里。有人叫我杀你,我却爱惜你。我说:‘我不敢下手伤害我主,因为他是耶和华的受膏者。’ 11 我父啊,请看,你外袍的衣边在我手中。我割下了你外袍的衣边,却没有杀你。你从此可以知道,也可以看出我手中没有邪恶,也没有过犯。我虽然没有得罪你,你却要猎取我的性命。 12 愿耶和华在你我之间判断是非;愿耶和华在你身上为我伸冤。我的手却不敢伤害你。 13 正如古时的格言:‘恶事出于恶人。’所以,我的手不敢伤害你。 14 以色列的王出去追捕谁呢?你现在追赶谁呢?不过是追赶一条死狗,一只跳蚤罢了! 15 愿耶和华在你我中间施行审判,断定是非;愿他鉴察,为我的案件伸冤,救我脱离你的手。”

扫罗认错

16 大卫对扫罗说完了这些话,扫罗就说:“我儿大卫啊,这是你的声音吗?”于是扫罗放声大哭, 17 对大卫说:“你比我公义,因为你以良善待我,我却以恶待你。 18 今天你所作的说明了你以良善待我,因为耶和华把我交在你手里,你却没有杀我。 19 如果人遇见仇敌,怎会让他平平安安离去呢?愿耶和华因你今天对我所作的以福报答你。 20 现在我知道你必要作王,以色列的王国必在你手里坚立起来。 21 现在你要指着耶和华向我起誓,不剪除我的后裔,也不从我父家消灭我的名。” 22 于是大卫向扫罗起誓,扫罗就回自己的家去了,大卫和跟随他的人也上山寨去了。

撒母耳逝世

25 撒母耳死了,以色列众人都聚集起来,为他哀哭,把他埋葬在拉玛他自己的家里。大卫起身,下到巴兰的旷野去。

大卫遣仆求拿八馈赠

在玛云有一个人,他的产业在迦密。他是一个很富有的人,有绵羊三千只,山羊一千只,那时他正在迦密剪羊毛。 那人名叫拿八,他的妻子名叫亚比该。这女人既聪明,又美丽。但那男人为人粗暴,又行事凶恶。他是个迦勒族的人。 大卫在旷野听说拿八正在剪羊毛, 就差派十个仆人,对他们说:“你们上迦密去见拿八,以我的名义向他问安。 你们要这样说:‘愿你长寿!愿你平安!愿你的家平安!愿你所有的一切都平安! 现在我听说有人为你剪羊毛。你的牧人与我们在一起的时候,我们都没有侮辱他们;他们在迦密的日子,也从没有遗失过甚么。 你可以问问你的仆人,他们必会告诉你。愿我派来的这些仆人在你眼前蒙恩,因为我们是在好日子来的,请你把手中所有的,随便赏赐一点给你的仆人和你的儿子大卫。’”

大卫的仆人到了,就以大卫的名义,把这些话都对拿八说了,然后等候答复。

拿八辱骂仆人

10 拿八回答大卫的仆人说:“大卫是谁?耶西的儿子是谁?现在离开主人逃走的仆人太多了。 11 我怎能把我的饼、我的水,和我为剪羊毛的人宰杀的肉,给那些我不知道从哪里来的人呢?” 12 于是大卫的仆人转回原路,回去了。他们到了以后,就把这一切话都告诉大卫。 13 大卫对跟随他的人说:“你们各人都佩上刀。”他们各人就佩上自己的刀,大卫也佩上自己的刀。跟随大卫上去的约有四百人,有二百人留下来看守器具。

14 拿八的一个仆人告诉拿八的妻子亚比该说:“大卫从旷野派遣使者来向我们的主人问候,主人却辱骂了他们。 15 但是,那些人对我们很好。我们在田野与他们往来的时候,他们都没有侮辱我们,我们也从没有遗失过甚么。 16 我们与他们在一起牧羊的日子,他们日夜都作保护我们的墙。 17 现在,你要想一想,看看你该怎么办,因为灾祸必定临到我们的主人和他的全家。他是一个性情凶恶的人,没有人敢对他说话。”

18 亚比该急忙拿了两百个饼、两皮袋酒、五只预备好了的羊、十七公斤烘好了的穗子、一百个葡萄饼、两百个无花果饼,都驮在驴背上, 19 然后对她的仆人说:“你们先去,我随着你们来。”这事她却没有告诉她的丈夫拿八。 20 亚比该骑着驴,正从山坡下来,忽见大卫和跟随他的人也正从对面迎着她走下来,亚比该就与他相遇了。 21 大卫曾经说过:“我在旷野看守这人一切所有的,使他一切所有的一样也没有失落,实在是白费心机了。他竟然对我以恶报善。 22 如果我让这人一切所有的,就是一个男丁,留到明天早晨, 神怎样惩罚大卫的仇敌,愿他也怎样加倍惩罚我。”

亚比该求大卫饶恕

23 亚比该见了大卫,就急忙从驴背下来,俯伏在大卫面前,脸伏于地,向他叩拜。 24 她又俯伏在大卫的脚前,说:“我主啊,愿这罪孽归我。求你容婢女向你讲话,求你听婢女所说的话。 25 请我主不要把这个性情凶恶的人拿八放在心上。因为他的名字怎样,他的为人也怎样。他名叫拿八,他也真是愚笨。我主派来的仆人,你的婢女并没有看见。 26 我主啊,现在我指着永活的耶和华,又在你面前起誓,耶和华既然阻止了你流人的血,又阻止了你亲手报仇,愿你的仇敌和那些谋害我主的人,都像拿八一样。 27 现在,请把你婢女给我主带来的这礼物,赐给跟随我主的仆人。 28 求你饶恕你婢女的过犯。耶和华必为我主建立一个坚固的家,因为我主为耶和华争战;在你一生的日子里,在你身上也找不到甚么过错。 29 虽然有人起来追赶你,寻索你的命,我主的性命必得保全在耶和华你的 神生命的囊中。至于你仇敌的命,耶和华却要甩去,像从甩石机甩出去一样。 30 将来耶和华照着他应许的一切善待了你,立了你作以色列的领袖的时候, 31 我主就不致因为无缘无故流人的血或亲自报仇而良心不安,心里有愧了。耶和华恩待了我主以后,求你记念你的婢女。”

大卫息怒

32 大卫对亚比该说:“耶和华以色列的 神是应当称颂的!他今天差派你来迎接我。 33 你的智慧和你的为人也是应当称赞的,因为你今天阻止了我流人的血,又阻止了我亲手报仇。 34 我指着那拦阻了我加害你的永活的耶和华以色列的 神起誓,如果你不及时来迎见我,到明天早晨,拿八所有的男丁必不留一个。” 35 大卫从亚比该手中接受了她带来给他的东西,就对她说:“你平平安安回家去吧!你看,我已经听了你的话,也答应了你的请求。”

拿八之死

36 亚比该到了拿八那里,他正在家中摆设筵席,好象帝王的筵席一样。拿八心里畅快,喝得烂醉如泥,所以无论大事小事亚比该都没有告诉他,直到第二天早晨。 37 到了早晨,拿八酒醒了,他的妻子才把这些事告诉他,他就吓得魂不附体,立刻中风瘫痪了。 38 大约过了十天,耶和华击打拿八,他就死了。

大卫娶亚比该为妻

39 大卫听见拿八死了,就说:“耶和华是应当称颂的,因为他为我伸了拿八羞辱我的冤,又阻止了仆人行恶,也使拿八的恶归到他自己的头上。”于是大卫派人去对亚比该说要娶她作他的妻子。 40 大卫的仆人到了迦密去见亚比该,对她说:“大卫差派我们到你这里来,要娶你作他的妻子。” 41 亚比该就起来,面伏于地叩拜,说:“婢女愿意作女仆,洗我主人的脚!” 42 亚比该急忙起来,骑上驴,带着五个跟随她的女仆,跟从大卫的使者去了,就作了大卫的妻子。

43 大卫先娶了耶斯列人亚希暖,她们二人都作了他的妻子。

44 扫罗已经把他的女儿米甲,就是大卫的妻子,赐给了迦琳人拉亿的儿子帕提作妻子。

扫罗在西弗旷野寻索大卫

26 西弗人到基比亚来见扫罗,说:“大卫不是在旷野前面的哈基拉山中躲藏起来吗?” 扫罗就动身,下到西弗旷野去,跟随他的有三千以色列精兵,要在西弗的旷野寻索大卫。 那时,扫罗在旷野前面的哈基拉山的路旁安营,大卫仍然住在旷野。大卫看见扫罗来到旷野追寻他, 就派出探子,知道扫罗已经到了纳康。 大卫起来,来到扫罗安营的地方,看见扫罗和他的元帅,尼珥的儿子押尼珥睡卧的地方。扫罗睡在军营的中央,众人都在他的周围安营。

大卫在西弗也不伤害扫罗

大卫问赫人亚希米勒和洗鲁雅的儿子约押的兄弟亚比筛,说:“谁愿与我一起下到扫罗的营里去呢?”亚比筛回答:“我愿与你一起下去。” 于是大卫和亚比筛趁着夜里到了众军那里。扫罗正躺在军营的中央睡着了,他的矛插在头旁的地上;押尼珥和众军都躺在他的周围。 亚比筛对大卫说:“今天 神把你的仇敌交在你手里了。现在求你容我用矛把他刺透在地上,一刺就够,不必再刺。” 大卫却对亚比筛说:“不可杀死他,因为有谁伸手伤害耶和华的受膏者而无罪呢?” 10 大卫又说:“我指着永活的耶和华起誓,他或被耶和华击打,或死期到了,或下到战场阵亡了, 11 我在耶和华面前,绝对不敢伸手伤害耶和华的受膏者。现在,你可以把扫罗头旁的矛和水袋拿来,我们就走吧!” 12 于是大卫从扫罗的头旁拿了矛和水袋,他们二人就走了。没有人看见,没有人知道,也没有人醒来。他们都睡着了,因为耶和华使他们沉睡。

大卫嘲笑押尼珥

13 然后大卫过到另一边去,远远地站在山顶上,两者之间的距离很远。 14 大卫呼叫众人和尼珥的儿子押尼珥说:“押尼珥啊,你不答话吗?”押尼珥回答说:“你是谁,竟敢呼叫王?” 15 大卫对押尼珥说:“你不是一个男子汉吗?以色列人中有谁能与你相比呢?众民中有一个人来要杀害王你的主,你为甚么没有保护王你的主呢? 16 你所作的这事不好。我指着永活的耶和华起誓,你们都是该死的,因为你们没有保护你的主,就是耶和华的受膏者。现在你看看王头旁的矛和水袋在哪里?”

大卫劝谏扫罗

17 扫罗认出是大卫的声音,就说:“我儿大卫啊!这是你的声音吗?”大卫说:“我主我王啊!是我的声音。” 18 又说:“我主为甚么这样追赶仆人呢?我作了甚么?我手里犯了甚么过错? 19 现在求我主我王听你仆人的话。如果是耶和华激动你攻击我,愿耶和华收纳祭物;如果是人激动你,愿他们在耶和华面前受咒诅,因为他们今天把我赶出来,不容我在耶和华的产业上有分,说:‘你去服事别的神吧!’ 20 现在,求王不要让我的血流在远离耶和华的地上,因为以色列王出来寻索我的性命,就像人在山中猎取一只鹧鸪一样。”

扫罗认错

21 扫罗说:“我有罪了,我儿大卫啊,你回来吧!因为今天你看我的命为宝贵,我必不再害你。看哪!我作了糊涂事了,并且错得很厉害。” 22 大卫回答说:“看哪!王的矛在这里,可以叫一个仆人过来拿去。 23 耶和华必按着各人的公义和信实报答他;今天耶和华把你交在我手里,我却不愿伸手伤害耶和华的受膏者。 24 看哪,我今天怎样看重你的命,愿耶和华也怎样看重我的命,并且救我脱离一切患难。” 25 扫罗对大卫说:“我儿大卫啊,愿你得福,你必作成你所要作的,也必得胜。”于是大卫离去了,扫罗也回自己的地方去了。

大卫投奔非利士之迦特王

27 大卫心里说:“总有一天,我会死在扫罗的手里,我倒不如逃奔到非利士人的国土,扫罗对我就会死心,不再在以色列全境寻索我,我就可以逃脱他的手了。” 于是大卫起来,和跟随他的六百人都越过边界,到迦特王玛俄的儿子亚吉那里去。 大卫和跟随他的人,以及他们各人的家眷,都与亚吉一同住在迦特。大卫的两个妻子,就是耶斯列人亚希暖和作过拿八妻子的迦密人亚比该也都住在那里。 有人告诉扫罗,大卫已经逃到迦特去了,扫罗就不再寻索他了。

大卫对亚吉说:“我若是在你眼前蒙恩,求你在这地的城市中,给我一个地方,让我住在那里。为甚么要你的仆人与你一同住在王城呢?” 那天,亚吉就把洗革拉赐给大卫,因此,洗革拉直到今日还是属犹大王的。 大卫在非利士人的乡镇居住的日子,共有一年零四个月。

征服邻近外族

大卫和跟随他的人上去袭击基述人、基色人和亚玛力人,这些人自古以来就是这地的居民,居于书珥到埃及地之间。 大卫攻打那地,无论男女,都不让一人存活,又掳走了牛、羊、驴子、骆驼和衣服,然后回来,到亚吉那里去。 10 亚吉问:“你们今天袭击了甚么地方呢?”大卫回答:“我们袭击了犹大的南方,耶拉蔑的南部,和基尼的南方。” 11 无论男女,大卫都不让一人活着带到迦特来,他说:“恐怕他们把我们的事告诉别人,说:‘大卫作了这样的事,他住在非利士人乡镇的日子,常常这样作。’” 12 亚吉相信了大卫,心里说:“他在自己的族人以色列中留下了臭名,他必永远作我的仆人了。”

24 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

25 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

26 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

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

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

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

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, and I will not smite him the second time.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?

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.

11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

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

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed.

24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

27 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

大卫在隐.基底不伤扫罗

24 扫罗追赶非利士人回来的时候,有人告诉他说:“看哪,大卫在隐.基底的旷野。”(本节在《马索拉文本》为24:2) 扫罗就从以色列人中选出三千精兵,带领他们到野羊盘石去搜索大卫和跟随他的人。 到了路旁的羊圈,那里有一个洞,扫罗进去大解;那时,大卫和跟随他的人正坐在洞里的深处。 跟随大卫的人对他说:“耶和华曾应许你说:‘我要把你的仇敌交在你的手里,你可以随意待他。’看哪!今天就是时候了。”于是大卫起来,悄悄地割下扫罗外袍的衣边。 事后,大卫为了割下扫罗的衣边,心中自责, 就对跟随他的人说:“我在耶和华面前绝对不能这样对待我主耶和华的受膏者,我绝对不能动手攻击他,因为他是耶和华的受膏者。” 大卫用这些话阻止了跟随他的人,不让他们起来攻击扫罗。扫罗起来,出了山洞,继续走他的路去了。

大卫向扫罗表白

随后,大卫也起来,离开了山洞,在扫罗背后呼叫,说:“我主!我王!”扫罗回头向后看的时候,大卫就脸伏于地,向他叩拜。 大卫对扫罗说:“你为甚么听信人的话,说:‘大卫想要害你’呢? 10 现在你亲眼看到,今天耶和华在山洞里,把你交在我手里。有人叫我杀你,我却爱惜你。我说:‘我不敢下手伤害我主,因为他是耶和华的受膏者。’ 11 我父啊,请看,你外袍的衣边在我手中。我割下了你外袍的衣边,却没有杀你。你从此可以知道,也可以看出我手中没有邪恶,也没有过犯。我虽然没有得罪你,你却要猎取我的性命。 12 愿耶和华在你我之间判断是非;愿耶和华在你身上为我伸冤。我的手却不敢伤害你。 13 正如古时的格言:‘恶事出于恶人。’所以,我的手不敢伤害你。 14 以色列的王出去追捕谁呢?你现在追赶谁呢?不过是追赶一条死狗,一只跳蚤罢了! 15 愿耶和华在你我中间施行审判,断定是非;愿他鉴察,为我的案件伸冤,救我脱离你的手。”

扫罗认错

16 大卫对扫罗说完了这些话,扫罗就说:“我儿大卫啊,这是你的声音吗?”于是扫罗放声大哭, 17 对大卫说:“你比我公义,因为你以良善待我,我却以恶待你。 18 今天你所作的说明了你以良善待我,因为耶和华把我交在你手里,你却没有杀我。 19 如果人遇见仇敌,怎会让他平平安安离去呢?愿耶和华因你今天对我所作的以福报答你。 20 现在我知道你必要作王,以色列的王国必在你手里坚立起来。 21 现在你要指着耶和华向我起誓,不剪除我的后裔,也不从我父家消灭我的名。” 22 于是大卫向扫罗起誓,扫罗就回自己的家去了,大卫和跟随他的人也上山寨去了。

撒母耳逝世

25 撒母耳死了,以色列众人都聚集起来,为他哀哭,把他埋葬在拉玛他自己的家里。大卫起身,下到巴兰的旷野去。

大卫遣仆求拿八馈赠

在玛云有一个人,他的产业在迦密。他是一个很富有的人,有绵羊三千只,山羊一千只,那时他正在迦密剪羊毛。 那人名叫拿八,他的妻子名叫亚比该。这女人既聪明,又美丽。但那男人为人粗暴,又行事凶恶。他是个迦勒族的人。 大卫在旷野听说拿八正在剪羊毛, 就差派十个仆人,对他们说:“你们上迦密去见拿八,以我的名义向他问安。 你们要这样说:‘愿你长寿!愿你平安!愿你的家平安!愿你所有的一切都平安! 现在我听说有人为你剪羊毛。你的牧人与我们在一起的时候,我们都没有侮辱他们;他们在迦密的日子,也从没有遗失过甚么。 你可以问问你的仆人,他们必会告诉你。愿我派来的这些仆人在你眼前蒙恩,因为我们是在好日子来的,请你把手中所有的,随便赏赐一点给你的仆人和你的儿子大卫。’”

大卫的仆人到了,就以大卫的名义,把这些话都对拿八说了,然后等候答复。

拿八辱骂仆人

10 拿八回答大卫的仆人说:“大卫是谁?耶西的儿子是谁?现在离开主人逃走的仆人太多了。 11 我怎能把我的饼、我的水,和我为剪羊毛的人宰杀的肉,给那些我不知道从哪里来的人呢?” 12 于是大卫的仆人转回原路,回去了。他们到了以后,就把这一切话都告诉大卫。 13 大卫对跟随他的人说:“你们各人都佩上刀。”他们各人就佩上自己的刀,大卫也佩上自己的刀。跟随大卫上去的约有四百人,有二百人留下来看守器具。

14 拿八的一个仆人告诉拿八的妻子亚比该说:“大卫从旷野派遣使者来向我们的主人问候,主人却辱骂了他们。 15 但是,那些人对我们很好。我们在田野与他们往来的时候,他们都没有侮辱我们,我们也从没有遗失过甚么。 16 我们与他们在一起牧羊的日子,他们日夜都作保护我们的墙。 17 现在,你要想一想,看看你该怎么办,因为灾祸必定临到我们的主人和他的全家。他是一个性情凶恶的人,没有人敢对他说话。”

18 亚比该急忙拿了两百个饼、两皮袋酒、五只预备好了的羊、十七公斤烘好了的穗子、一百个葡萄饼、两百个无花果饼,都驮在驴背上, 19 然后对她的仆人说:“你们先去,我随着你们来。”这事她却没有告诉她的丈夫拿八。 20 亚比该骑着驴,正从山坡下来,忽见大卫和跟随他的人也正从对面迎着她走下来,亚比该就与他相遇了。 21 大卫曾经说过:“我在旷野看守这人一切所有的,使他一切所有的一样也没有失落,实在是白费心机了。他竟然对我以恶报善。 22 如果我让这人一切所有的,就是一个男丁,留到明天早晨, 神怎样惩罚大卫的仇敌,愿他也怎样加倍惩罚我。”

亚比该求大卫饶恕

23 亚比该见了大卫,就急忙从驴背下来,俯伏在大卫面前,脸伏于地,向他叩拜。 24 她又俯伏在大卫的脚前,说:“我主啊,愿这罪孽归我。求你容婢女向你讲话,求你听婢女所说的话。 25 请我主不要把这个性情凶恶的人拿八放在心上。因为他的名字怎样,他的为人也怎样。他名叫拿八,他也真是愚笨。我主派来的仆人,你的婢女并没有看见。 26 我主啊,现在我指着永活的耶和华,又在你面前起誓,耶和华既然阻止了你流人的血,又阻止了你亲手报仇,愿你的仇敌和那些谋害我主的人,都像拿八一样。 27 现在,请把你婢女给我主带来的这礼物,赐给跟随我主的仆人。 28 求你饶恕你婢女的过犯。耶和华必为我主建立一个坚固的家,因为我主为耶和华争战;在你一生的日子里,在你身上也找不到甚么过错。 29 虽然有人起来追赶你,寻索你的命,我主的性命必得保全在耶和华你的 神生命的囊中。至于你仇敌的命,耶和华却要甩去,像从甩石机甩出去一样。 30 将来耶和华照着他应许的一切善待了你,立了你作以色列的领袖的时候, 31 我主就不致因为无缘无故流人的血或亲自报仇而良心不安,心里有愧了。耶和华恩待了我主以后,求你记念你的婢女。”

大卫息怒

32 大卫对亚比该说:“耶和华以色列的 神是应当称颂的!他今天差派你来迎接我。 33 你的智慧和你的为人也是应当称赞的,因为你今天阻止了我流人的血,又阻止了我亲手报仇。 34 我指着那拦阻了我加害你的永活的耶和华以色列的 神起誓,如果你不及时来迎见我,到明天早晨,拿八所有的男丁必不留一个。” 35 大卫从亚比该手中接受了她带来给他的东西,就对她说:“你平平安安回家去吧!你看,我已经听了你的话,也答应了你的请求。”

拿八之死

36 亚比该到了拿八那里,他正在家中摆设筵席,好象帝王的筵席一样。拿八心里畅快,喝得烂醉如泥,所以无论大事小事亚比该都没有告诉他,直到第二天早晨。 37 到了早晨,拿八酒醒了,他的妻子才把这些事告诉他,他就吓得魂不附体,立刻中风瘫痪了。 38 大约过了十天,耶和华击打拿八,他就死了。

大卫娶亚比该为妻

39 大卫听见拿八死了,就说:“耶和华是应当称颂的,因为他为我伸了拿八羞辱我的冤,又阻止了仆人行恶,也使拿八的恶归到他自己的头上。”于是大卫派人去对亚比该说要娶她作他的妻子。 40 大卫的仆人到了迦密去见亚比该,对她说:“大卫差派我们到你这里来,要娶你作他的妻子。” 41 亚比该就起来,面伏于地叩拜,说:“婢女愿意作女仆,洗我主人的脚!” 42 亚比该急忙起来,骑上驴,带着五个跟随她的女仆,跟从大卫的使者去了,就作了大卫的妻子。

43 大卫先娶了耶斯列人亚希暖,她们二人都作了他的妻子。

44 扫罗已经把他的女儿米甲,就是大卫的妻子,赐给了迦琳人拉亿的儿子帕提作妻子。

24 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

25 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.