1 Samuel 26

“And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and…” Naming Saul and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner…” Naming Saul and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I…” Naming Abishai and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anointed, bolster, cruse. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, abiding, accept. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD : for the king of Israel is come out to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in…” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, LORD, anointed. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD…” The line’s distinctive content terms include eyes, life, deliver. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail…” Naming David and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.