I am not sure whose payrolls the Ziphites were on; however, each time David hides in their territory, the report him to Saul (1 Samuel 23.15-29). In this chapter, they report David to Saul again. In 1 Samuel 24, David could have killed Saul but spared his life because Saul is God’s anointed. In this chapter the same story plays out for Saul and David.
The stories are different in a few ways. David took Saul’s spear while he was “relieving” himself in chapter 24. In chapter 26 David takes Saul’s spear and water. Water was an important commodity in this arid place.
Three interesting characters are introduced in this chapter:
- Abner was Saul’s first cousin. Ner was Saul’s uncle (1 Chronicles 9.35-44). David would later lament the death of Abner (2 Samuel 3.33-34).
- Joab is the son of David’s sister, he killed Abner, would kill Uriah (2 Samuel 11.14-27), would kill others for David (2 Samuel 20.10), would not follow the revolt of David’s son Absalom, but would follow the revolt of David’s son Adonijah (1 Kings 2.28).
- Abishai is the son of David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2.9-17).
This chapter presents the love David has for God and the trust he has in God. He refuses to kill Saul and entrusts Saul’s life into God’s hands. If God wants Saul dead, He will do it in His own time. He protects Saul again. Saul repents again. David compares himself to the most common insect in the area (here and in 1 Samuel 24.14). David is insignificant as compared to what Saul should be fighting (the giant Philistines?). Saul asks David to return; however, they both go their separate ways at the end of the chapter. David knew better than to trust the apparent repentance of Saul.
Whom are we fighting? Who comes against us? What are our reactions to them, no matter how many times they come?