1 Samuel 26 12

1 Samuel 26:12 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 26:12 nkjv

So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

1 Samuel 26:12 niv

So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.

1 Samuel 26:12 esv

So 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.

1 Samuel 26:12 nlt

So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul's men into a deep sleep.

1 Samuel 26 verses

1 Samuel 26 12 Meaning

This verse recounts David's successful, undetected entry into Saul's encampment and his taking of Saul's spear and water jar. The crucial explanation provided is that no one in Saul's camp was awake or even sensed their presence because God Himself had caused a supernaturally deep sleep to fall upon them. This divine intervention ensured David could secure proof of his proximity to Saul without harming the Lord's anointed, thereby demonstrating his faithfulness and God's protective hand over him.

1 Samuel 26 12 Context

This verse is set during a tense period where King Saul, filled with irrational jealousy and spiritual decline, relentlessly pursues David, whom God has anointed as the next king of Israel. David, despite Saul's hostile pursuit and repeated attempts on his life, consistently refuses to raise his hand against Saul, acknowledging Saul's status as "the LORD's anointed." Chapter 26 presents David's second opportunity to kill Saul, who is now encamped against him with 3,000 chosen men. David and his kinsman Abishai stealthily infiltrate Saul's camp at night. Instead of striking Saul, David simply takes his spear and water jar, symbolic of his control over the situation and proof of his close proximity without hostile intent. The subsequent verses describe David's act of calling out to Saul from a distance, revealing what he had done, further establishing his innocence and faithfulness, and again highlighting Saul's unreasonableness. This entire episode serves to illustrate David's character, his trust in God's timing, and God's providential care over David.

1 Samuel 26 12 Word analysis

• So David took: David's decisive action, not random, but calculated. It demonstrates courage and control, enabling him to gain indisputable evidence of his forbearance.

• the spear and the jar of water: These items represent Saul's power/authority (spear, symbol of royal military authority, typically by the king's head) and personal necessities/life (water jar). Taking them without harming Saul visually communicated his intent—he had access, but spared.

• from Saul’s head: Indicates extreme proximity and vulnerability, underscoring the magnitude of God’s protective hand. The spear was usually thrust into the ground by a sleeping warrior's head for immediate access.

• and they went away: Their departure was as unnoticed as their arrival, sealing the miraculous nature of the event.

• No one saw it, or knew it, or awoke: This tri-fold negation emphasizes the absolute secrecy and undetected nature of David's mission. It stresses the completeness of the slumber.

• for they were all asleep: The natural, physical explanation given for their lack of awareness. However, this common state of sleep is then shown to be supernaturally ordained.

• because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them: This is the theological lynchpin of the verse.

  • deep sleep (Hebrew: tardemah, תַּרְדֵּמָה): This is not just ordinary sleep but a supernaturally induced, profound slumber or trance. This term is used elsewhere in the Bible for significant divine interventions (e.g., God putting Adam into tardemah to create Eve, or Abraham into tardemah before the covenant revelation). It denotes an unshakeable state of unconsciousness, often orchestrated by God for a specific purpose.
  • from the LORD (Hebrew: YHWH, יְהוָה): Directly attributes the cause of the "deep sleep" to God Himself. This isn't coincidence or human exhaustion, but a direct act of divine providence. God actively intervenes to protect David and ensure His will is done, preventing Saul's men from waking.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So David took...and they went away.": Highlights David's deliberate action and safe withdrawal, made possible by divine aid. It showcases David's self-control and God's enabling.
  • "No one saw it, or knew it, or awoke, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.": This clause chain moves from observable facts (no one saw/knew) to proximate cause (everyone asleep) to ultimate cause (God's tardemah). It provides a profound theological explanation for a humanly impossible feat, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over human consciousness and circumstances, and His active role in protecting His chosen servant David.

1 Samuel 26 12 Bonus section

The tardemah experienced by Saul's men stands in stark contrast to the "evil spirit from the LORD" that frequently troubled Saul (1 Sam 16:14-23). While Saul experienced a tormenting spirit from God as a consequence of his disobedience, his army experienced a protective, calming sleep from God, orchestrated for David's benefit and demonstrating God's consistent care for his righteous servant. The very instruments of war and sustenance (spear and water) lying beside Saul's head were now rendered useless by God’s act, symbolic of Saul’s kingdom effectively being given over to David by divine intervention, without David needing to physically take it by force. This act sets up David as not merely an opportunistic successor, but one who ascends through divine favor and moral uprightness.

1 Samuel 26 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 26:12 vividly demonstrates God's sovereign control over seemingly mundane events to accomplish His divine purposes. David's entry into Saul's camp was not by human cunning or stealth alone, but through God's direct intervention, causing a supernaturally deep sleep (tardemah) to fall upon all of Saul's men. This divine "anesthesia" enabled David to take the spear and water jar, indisputable proof of his proximity to the king and his continued refusal to harm the Lord's anointed. This act reinforces David's righteousness and integrity, illustrating his profound respect for God's established authority, even when that authority was unjustly persecuting him. It underscores the biblical truth that God is the ultimate protector of His servants, capable of restraining their enemies and orchestrating circumstances beyond human capacity. The "deep sleep" here is a metaphor for divine restraint, where God directly paralyses human perception and action to fulfill His plans, reassuring believers that their lives are held in the secure hand of God.