1 Samuel 26 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 26 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s first king, Saul, was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

• The events documented in 1 Samuel 26 took place between approximately 1015-1010 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• David – He was selected by God to eventually become the second king of Israel.

• Saul – The first king of Israel. He hated David and was always trying to kill him.

• Abner – The commander of Saul’s army.

WHERE:

• David and his band of men were hiding from Saul in the wilderness of Ziph.

OUTLINE:

• DAVID SNEAKS INTO SAUL’S CAMP AT NIGHT (26:1-25):

  • The Ziphites, who had previously revealed David’s whereabouts to Saul (1 Sam 23), returned to the king to inform on David again.

  • They told Saul David was hiding in the wilderness of Ziph.

  • Saul took 3,000 men and went looking for David. Saul’s men camped on the hill of Hachilah.

  • One night, David took a man named Abishai and snuck into Saul’s camp.

  • Saul was sleeping in the middle of the camp, but David was able to sneak up on him.

  • Abishai offered to kill Saul, but David refused to kill “the Lord’s anointed.”

  • David took Saul’s spear and his waterpot and snuck away. No one in Saul’s camp saw David or awoke because “a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them” (26:12).

  • When they were safely outside the camp, David called to Saul’s captain of the guard, Abner.

  • He mocked Abner for not doing his job by failing to protect the king.

  • David asked Saul why he was intent on hunting him, even though he had done no evil to him.

  • Saul’s heart was softened, and he confessed that he had sinned.

  • He said, “Behold, I have acted foolishly, and I have made a great mistake” (26:21).

  • David returned Saul’s spear and water pot.

  • Saul blessed David before returning home.

APPLICATION:

• David had more patience with Saul than most men would have with someone who sinned against them.

• As Christians, let’s do our best to extend patience and forgiveness freely.

• One time, when discussing forgiveness Jesus said, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 

• Considering how patient God has been with us, patience with others is the appropriate response.