1 Samuel 26:16

Justice

¹⁴ And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who calls to the king?” Abner replied.

¹⁵ So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?

This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

¹⁷ Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.

¹⁸ And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
KJV: This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
WEB: This thing isn’t good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
ASV: This thing is not good that thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, Jehovah`s anointed. And now see where the king`s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.
DARBY: This thing is not good which thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not guarded your master, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.
BLB: This thing that you have done [is] not good. [As] YHWH lives, surely you⁺ deserve to die, because you⁺ have not watched over your⁺ master, over the anointed of YHWH. And now see, where [is] the spear of the king and the jug of water that [was] by his head?”

ÅB: Det er ikke godt det du har gjort. Så sant Herren lever: Dere er dødsens, dere som ikke har holdt vakt over deres herre, han som er Herrens salvede. Se nå etter hvor kongens spyd er, og vannkrukken som sto ved hans hodegjerde!
OTB: Denne gjerningen du har gjort er ikke god. Så sant Herren lever, dere må alle dø, fordi dere ikke voktet deres herre, Herrens salvede. Nå se og se hvor kongens spyd og vannkrukken som var ved hodet hans er.”
B1930: Det er ikke godt det du har gjort. Så sant Herren lever: I er dødsens, I som ikke har holdt vakt over eders herre, han som er Herrens salvede. Se nu efter hvor kongens spyd er, og vannkrukken som stod ved hans hodegjerde!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 26:11
But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 12:5
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
Read in context
2 Samuel 19:28
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:9
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”
Read in context
Ephesians 2:3
All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Read in context
1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
Read in context
Psalms 79:11
May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.
Read in context
Psalms 102:20
to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,
Read in context