1 Samuel 26:7

1Sa 26:7 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.

Ver. 7. So David and Abishai came.] Ahimelech belike durst not venture, or else David was willing to have but only one with him, for secrecy sake.

But Abner and the people lay round about him.] See on 1Sa 26:5.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa_26:7

Saul lay sleeping within the trench.

The danger of spiritual lethargy

The circumstances of Saul, and the manner in which he was treated by David, may have a warning voice to unbelievers, careless, thoughtless, and slumbering in their sins. The King of Israel was bound to David by every tie of gratitude, as to the man who had saved his life and kingdom. Yet with all unthankfulness the most flagrant did he aim if possible to destroy him. With this unrighteous purpose, he had followed David into the wilderness of Ziph, and every malignant feeling was arrayed against the man after Gods own heart. And what is the unbelievers state in reference to God? Hath not the Most High visited him with providential and spiritual mercies? Look how eternal love is manifested, in that Christ hath died for him, the just for the unjust, that He might bring him to God. What is the result? Hath this flow of goodness softened and melted him into deep repentance, adoring gratitude, and holy reconciliation? No; look how the offender is pursuing the Lord to dishonour Him--mark how the carnal mind is enmity against God. The lips, to which God hath given language, ere opened to blaspheme Him. The feet, to which He hath given motion, walk in the way of scorners. In prosecution of his unrighteous purpose, Saul had pitched in the hill of Hachilah, whither David and Abishai his sisters son followed him. And when they came, behold Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and the spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; but Abner, the captain of his host, and the people lay round about him. His army, confident and well appointed, were at his bidding and hard at hand; he looked for no resistance, but expected soon and safely to possess and destroy his enemy, and he fell asleep in the fulness of security. In that warfare which the rebellious sinner wages with his offended Maker, how often doth self-confidence lull his soul to sleep in the trench! His heart is lulled to sleep by the deceitfulness of sin. The very forbearance he hath received serves to deepen his lethargy. Satan leads him blindfold into danger. Jonah slept in the storm; Samson slept in the lap of Delilah, while the Philistines were upon him; Sisera slept in the tent of Jael the Kenite; and thus doth the soul without Christ sleep amidst the terrors of impending wrath. A deep sleep had fallen upon Saul from the Lord. O tremble, lest, while ye are wrapped up in this insensibility, an offended God should continue and deepen the spirit of slumber upon you in judgment. Saul slept securely, but he was in the power of his enemies. David had good reason to regard him as a foe; and how shall God regard you who depart from him? Abishai said unto David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thy hand this day. Is your spiritual slumber so deep that ye cannot hear Satan express a similar desire? Doth he not long to put, forth his hand for a first and final stroke against your lives? (R. P. Buddicom, M. A.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, bolster.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(7) Within the trench.—As above, in 1Sa_26:5, “within the barrier of the wagons.”

His spear . . . at his bolster.—“Bolster,” literally, the place where his head is, better rendered at his head; and so in 1Sa_26:11-12; 1Sa_26:16. The same Hebrew word occurs in the narration of Jacob’s dream (Gen_28:11); it is there rendered in our English Version, “his pillows.” It was the tall spear which ever seems to have been in Saul’s hand, or placed close to him. We read of it in battle in his hand, and in the council chamber and at the state banquet it was within his reach, and now it was evidently reared upright beside the sleeping king. “I noticed at all the encampments which we passed that the sheik’s tent was distinguished from the rest by a tall spear stuck upright in the ground in front of it; and it is the custom when a party set out on an excursion for robbery or for war, that when they halt to rest the spot where the chief reclines or rests is thus designated”—Thomson, Land and the Book.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. to the people] i.e. to Saul’s army. Cp. 1Sa_14:45.

his spear] See on 1Sa_18:10.

at his bolster] At his head; and so in 1Sa_26:11; 1Sa_26:16. Cp. 1Sa_19:13.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night,.... Josephus (l) wrongly says, that he took with him both Abishai and Ahimelech; he chose to have but one, for the greater secrecy. This was a bold enterprise, for two men to go into a camp of three thousand men, though it was in the night; when though they might suppose the greater part of them were asleep, yet they could not well suppose this of all, and especially of the guards or sentinels; but no doubt David was moved to this, not merely by the dint of his natural courage, but by the Spirit of God, by whom he might be assured of protection, and that Saul and the people were cast into a deep sleep by the Lord, as they were, Sa1 26:12; and this the Lord moved him to, that he might have an opportunity a second time to convince Saul of his innocence, and that he had no design upon his life:

and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench; See Gill on Sa1 26:5,

and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; ready to take up and defend himself, should he be surprised; or this was his sceptre, which he always carried about with him, as an ensign of royalty, and by which very probably David knew which was Saul's tent or couch, where he slept:

but Abner and the people lay round about him; as in Sa1 26:5.

(l) Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

To the people, i. e. to Saul’s host and camp. It might seem a bold and strange attempt; but many things are to be considered:

1. That heroical persons have oft attempted things of no less difficulty and danger than this was; as many credible historians relate.

2. That David did and might easily perceive that they were all fast asleep.

3. That David had a particular assurance that God would preserve him to the kingdom.

4. That he had a special instinct from God to this work; and possibly God might inform him that he had cast them into a dead sleep, that he might have this second opportunity of manifesting his innocency towards Saul, and the justice of his cause.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

7. Spear… at his bolster — Or, at his head, as we have rendered the Hebrew at 1Sa_19:13. “I noticed at all the encampments which we passed,” says Dr. Thomson, “that the sheik’s tent was distinguished from the rest by a tall spear stuck upright in the ground in front of it; and it is the custom, when a party is out on an excursion for robbery or for war, that when they halt to rest, the spot where the chief reclines or sleeps is thus designated.”

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 7, 8. The two accordingly go by night, or "at night," as soon as night came on, and find Saul asleep within the trench, i.e. inside the wagon rampart, as in ver. 5, and his spear, the sign of his royal authority, stuck in the ground; not at his bolster, but "at his head; and so in vers. 11, 12, 16. The word literally signifies "the place where the head is." Like David"s men in 1Sa_24:4, Abishai sees in Saul"s defenceless condition a proof that it was God"s will that he should die, but there is a difference of language in the Hebrew which the A.V does not represent. There the word rendered deliver is really give; here it is "hath locked up." At once. Hebrew, "once." Abishai would pierce him through with a single stroke so thoroughly that no second blow would be necessary. The purpose of this would be to prevent an outcry.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Came - That is, to Saul's host. It might seem a bold and strange attempt; but it may be considered:

1. That David had a particular assurance that God would preserve him to the kingdom.

2. That he had a special instinct from God, to this work; and possibly God might inform him, that he had cast them into a deep sleep, that he might have this second opportunity of manifesting his innocency towards Saul.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Stuck. Thrust.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.