1Los hombres de Zif volvieron ante Saúl en Guibeá y le informaron que David estaba escondido en la colina de Jaquilá al este del desierto.2Saúl tomó tres mil de sus mejores hombres y fue en su persecución,3y acampó junto al camino que bordea el desierto donde David estaba escondido.4Pero David supo de la llegada de Saúl y envió hombres a observar sus movimientos.5-7Una noche, David fue silenciosamente hasta el campamento de Saúl. El rey Saúl y el general Abner dormían rodeados por los soldados. ―¿Algún voluntario quiere ir conmigo? —preguntó David a Ajimélec, el hitita, y a Abisay, hermano de Joab e hijo de Sarvia. ―Yo iré contigo —respondió Abisay. David y Abisay, pues, fueron al campamento de Saúl y lo encontraron dormido, con la lanza clavada en el suelo, junto a su cabeza.8―Dios ha vuelto a poner a tu enemigo en tus manos —susurró Abisay—. Déjame que lo atraviese con su lanza. Lo clavaré en tierra con ella y no necesitaré darle un segundo golpe.9―No —dijo David—, porque nadie puede quedar impune si ataca al ungido del SEÑOR.10Dios le dará muerte algún día, o morirá en una batalla o de vejez.11Pero Dios me libre de matar al hombre que él ha escogido como rey. Pero mira, llevémonos su lanza y su cántaro.12David tomó la lanza y el cántaro de agua, y salió sin que nadie los viera, porque el SEÑOR los había hecho dormirse profundamente.13Pasaron al lado opuesto. Cuando estuvieron en la cima de la montaña, a una distancia prudente,14David gritó a Abner y a Saúl: ―¡Despierta, Abner! ―¿Quién es? —preguntó Abner—. ¿Quién se atreve a gritarle al rey?15―¡Vaya, vaya, Abner! ¡Eres un gran hombre! —bromeó David—. ¿Dónde en Israel podrá encontrarse a uno tan bueno como tú? Ah, pero no has cuidado bien a tu amo el rey. ¡Alguien se acercó a matarlo!16Eso no es bueno, Abner. Juro por el SEÑOR que debieras morir por tu falta de cuidado. A ver, ¿dónde está la lanza del rey y el cántaro de agua que estaba junto a su cabeza? Búscalos.17Saúl reconoció la voz de David y dijo: ―¿Eres tú, hijo mío, David? Y David respondió: ―Sí, señor, soy yo.18¿Por qué me persigues? ¿Qué he hecho? ¿Cuál es mi delito?19Si es el SEÑOR el que te ha incitado en mi contra, que acepte mi ofrenda de paz. Pero si son hombres los que lo han hecho, que el SEÑOR los maldiga, porque se me ha sacado de mi hogar para que, en vez de estar con el pueblo del SEÑOR, me encuentre lejos donde adoran a dioses paganos.20¿Debo morir en tierra ajena, lejos de la presencia del SEÑOR? ¿Por qué el rey de Israel sale en busca de mi vida como quien persigue una perdiz en los montes?21―He hecho mal —exclamó Saúl—. Regresa, hijo mío, y no trataré más de dañarte. Tú me has perdonado la vida hoy. He sido un necio y he actuado mal, muy mal.22―Aquí está tu lanza, señor —contestó David—. Que venga uno de tus hombres a buscarla.23Que el SEÑOR dé a cada uno su recompensa por hacer el bien y por ser leal, pues yo me negué a matarte aun cuando el SEÑOR te entregó en mis manos.24Ahora, que el SEÑOR salve mi vida, así como yo he salvado la tuya hoy. Que él me salve de toda aflicción.25Y Saúl le dijo a David: ―Que Dios te bendiga, hijo mío, David. Harás proezas grandes, y serás un gran vencedor. Entonces David se marchó y Saúl regresó a su casa.
1Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” (1 S 23:19)2So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. (1 S 23:14; 1 S 24:2)3And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,4David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.5Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. (1 S 14:50; 1 S 17:20; 1 S 17:55; 2 S 2:8)6Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” (Jue 7:9; 2 S 2:18; 2 S 3:39; 2 S 16:10; 2 S 19:22; 1 Cr 2:16)7So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. (1 S 26:5; 1 S 26:11; 1 S 26:16)8Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” (1 S 24:4; 1 S 24:18)9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” (1 S 24:6; 1 S 24:10; 1 S 26:11; 1 S 26:16; 1 S 26:23; 2 S 1:16)10And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. (Gn 47:29; Dt 31:14; Rt 3:13; 1 S 25:38; 1 S 31:6)11The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” (1 S 24:6; 1 S 26:7; 1 S 26:16)12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. (Gn 2:21; Gn 15:12)13Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them.14And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?”15And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.16This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” (Rt 3:13; 1 S 26:7; 1 S 26:11)17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” (1 S 24:16)18And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? (1 S 24:9; 1 S 24:11)19Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ (2 S 14:16; 2 S 20:19; 2 S 21:3; Sal 120:5)20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” (1 S 24:14)21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” (1 S 15:24; 1 S 24:17)22And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it.23The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. (Sal 7:8; Sal 18:20)24Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. (Gn 32:28)