1 Samuel 26:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David approaches Saul's camp and observes the king lying within the entrenchment, guarded by Abner and surrounded by his troops.
What Does 1 Samuel 26:5 Mean?
Under cover, David draws near to the enemy encampment and studies its layout. He sees Saul asleep within the barricade, his commander Abner nearby, and the army bedded down in a protective ring around their king.
David moves toward danger, not away from it, yet his aim is not vengeance. He places himself where harm could easily come in order to act with integrity rather than from ambush. There is a courage that approaches the very seat of threat not to destroy but to prove its own innocence, and Scripture sets that courage before us as something worth beholding.
1 Samuel 26:5 in the Original Language
Abner (אַבְנֵר), 'my father is a lamp' -- Saul's cousin and chief commander, the strength of the royal house.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 26:5
What does 1 Samuel 26:5 mean?
David approaches Saul's camp and observes the king lying within the entrenchment, guarded by Abner and surrounded by his troops.