1 Samuel 26:12

So David took the spear and water jug by Saul’s head, and they departed. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up; they all remained asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses his men after infiltrating Saul’s camp at night. He has just ordered them to retrieve the king’s spear and water jug before retreating into the hills.

The words — The account notes David taking the spear and jug, employing the verb וַיִּקַּח (va/i.yi.Kach, "and he took") and the noun צַפַּחַת (tza.Pa.chat, "jug"). These terms document the physical removal of Saul’s provisions without violence.

The thread — The text connects this event to other instances of divinely induced slumber, citing Genesis 2:21, Genesis 15:12, and Isaiah 29:10. These passages establish a recurring pattern where God’s intervention renders human perception inactive.

Why it lands — The narrative requires the reader to acknowledge that divine sovereignty can neutralize human power without the believer’s complicity. It demands acceptance that God’s timing and methods supersede human strategy.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּקַּח֩va/i.yi.Kachand/ he took דָּוִ֨דda.VidDavid אֶֽת־'et-<obj.>הַחֲנִ֜יתha./cha.Nitthe/ spear וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>צַפַּ֤חַתtza.Pa.chat[the] jug of הַמַּ֙יִם֙ha./Ma.yim<the>/ water מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣יme.ra.'a.sho.Tei[at the] head of שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaul וַיֵּלְכ֖וּva/i.ye.le.Khuand/ they wentלָהֶ֑םla./Hemfor <the>/ themselvesוְאֵ֣יןve./'Einand/ there not רֹאֶה֩ro.'Eh[was one who] saw וְאֵ֨יןve./'Einand/ there not יוֹדֵ֜עַyo.De.a'[was one who] knew וְאֵ֣יןve./'Einand/ there not מֵקִ֗יץme.Kitz[was one who] awoke כִּ֤יkifor כֻלָּם֙khu.La/mall of/ them יְשֵׁנִ֔יםye.she.Nim[were] sleeping כִּ֚יkifor תַּרְדֵּמַ֣תtar.de.Mat<the> deep sleep of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh נָפְלָ֖הna.fe.Lahit had fallen עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei./Hemon/ them

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Genesis 2:21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh.
Genesis 15:12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
1 Samuel 24:4 So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 26:7 That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.
Esther 6:1 That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.

People named

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