1 Samuel 26 8

1 Samuel 26:8 kjv

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

1 Samuel 26:8 nkjv

Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!"

1 Samuel 26:8 niv

Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't strike him twice."

1 Samuel 26:8 esv

Then 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 Samuel 26:8 nlt

"God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!" Abishai whispered to David. "Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't need to strike twice!"

1 Samuel 26 verses

1 Samuel 26 8 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 26:8, Abishai, driven by loyalty and a strategic mindset, interprets King Saul's vulnerable state as a clear divine intervention, believing God has given David the perfect opportunity to eliminate his persecutor. He requests permission to strike Saul once, decisively, with his spear, intending to deliver a fatal blow that would negate any need for a second strike, thereby permanently removing the threat Saul poses. His perspective is rooted in a pragmatic understanding of kingship and warfare, advocating for a swift, human-engineered solution to David's prolonged tribulation.

1 Samuel 26 8 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 26 marks the second time David has a clear opportunity to kill King Saul, who relentlessly hunts him due to paranoid jealousy. Saul, having received news of David's hiding place in the wilderness of Ziph, leads an expedition of three thousand chosen men to pursue him. David, demonstrating courage and military acumen, stealthily approaches Saul's camp at night with Abishai. They find Saul asleep, with his spear (a symbol of his kingship and a tool he had used to try and kill David) stuck in the ground near his head, and his water jug. The scene sets a stage where Saul is utterly vulnerable, providentially placed in David's power, allowing Abishai's eager proposal in verse 8 to unfold. David's subsequent actions in this chapter, similar to those in chapter 24 (where he only cut a piece of Saul's robe), emphasize his consistent reverence for God's anointed and his refusal to take the throne through violent means or personal vengeance, setting him apart as a king after God's own heart.

1 Samuel 26 8 Word analysis

• Then Abishai said to David: This introduces Abishai, David's nephew and one of his most loyal, yet aggressive, military commanders. His statement is not a mere suggestion but a forceful declaration stemming from a soldier's perspective.
• "God has delivered": (Hebrew: hisgir, הִסְגִּיר, a form of sagar, סָגַר, meaning "to shut up, close, deliver"). Abishai attributes the vulnerable state of Saul directly to divine action. This is a theological interpretation of the situation, seeing God's hand in making Saul powerless.
• "your enemy": Saul, despite being the divinely appointed king, is accurately described by Abishai as David's persecutor and adversary.
• "into your hand": (Hebrew: b'yad'kha, בְּיָדְךָ). This is a common biblical idiom signifying control, power, or possession over someone or something. It indicates an opportunity granted, often by God, to gain victory or dispose of an opponent.
• "this day": Emphasizes the immediate, timely, and providential nature of the opportunity, implying that it is God's designated moment.
• "Now therefore": A logical connector, presenting Abishai's conclusion based on his divine interpretation. Since God has delivered Saul, decisive action is warranted.
• "please let me strike him": Abishai's direct request, almost an earnest plea, indicating his readiness and conviction. The word "please" softens the imperative, but his intent is resolute.
• "with the spear": (Hebrew: bachanith, בַּחֲנִית). This specific weapon holds symbolic weight, as Saul had repeatedly tried to kill David with his own spear (1 Sam 18:10-11, 19:9-10). Abishai proposes a retributive and ironic use of Saul's signature weapon.
• "even to the ground at once": Conveys the intensity and finality of the intended blow. "To the ground" implies throwing him down to ensure a lethal strike. "At once" suggests immediate action, without hesitation, emphasizing decisiveness.
• "and I will not have to strike him a second time": This phrase underlines the intended swiftness and thoroughness. Abishai aims for a single, incapacitating, fatal blow, guaranteeing the complete neutralization of Saul as a threat.

1 Samuel 26 8 Bonus section

• This event serves as a crucial ethical test for David, further validating his character and demonstrating his qualification to be king in contrast to Saul. He doesn't ascend by seizing power but by divine anointing and waiting.
• Abishai's statement reflects a common, yet often misguided, interpretation of "divine opportunities." Not every vulnerability of an adversary signifies a divine command for immediate, violent action, especially when it contradicts higher divine principles like respecting God's anointed or leaving vengeance to the Lord.
• The placement of Saul's spear and water jug (1 Sam 26:11-12) provides tangible proof of David's ability to kill Saul, making his choice to spare him undeniable and highlighting the depth of his principled stance.
• The contrast between Abishai's impulsivity and David's spiritual discernment is a recurring theme in David's life, showing David often had to guide and restrain his often-rash mighty men.

1 Samuel 26 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 26:8 presents a critical moment in David's life, encapsulated by Abishai's zealous counsel. It perfectly highlights the clash between human rationale and divine principle. Abishai, representative of conventional human wisdom and military logic, sees Saul's vulnerable state as an undeniable sign of divine endorsement for eliminating an enemy. His interpretation, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand," correctly identifies God's sovereign involvement in the circumstances but profoundly misjudges God's intent for David's response. In that era, the swift execution of rivals was common, and Abishai’s advice aligned with prevailing customs. However, David's greatness, as affirmed by the scriptural narrative, is his unwavering trust in God's timing and his reverence for God's anointed, refusing to spill innocent blood or seize the throne through violent usurpation. This restraint sets David apart, establishing his character as "a man after God's own heart" who prioritizes divine appointment and process over expedient human means. This episode foreshadows New Testament teachings on non-vengeance and waiting for the Lord's justice.