1 Samuel 26
Open in the reader1Then the Of-Pitchs came to Asked-For at The-Hill and said, “Is not Beloved hiding on the hill of Dark, opposite Jeshimon?”
2So Asked-For, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Strives-with-God, went down to the Wilderness of Pitch to search for Beloved there.
3Asked-For camped beside the road at the hill of Dark opposite Jeshimon, but Beloved was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Asked-For had followed him there,
4Beloved sent out spies to verify that Asked-For had arrived.
5Then Beloved set out and went to the place where Asked-For had camped. He saw the place where Asked-For and My-Father-Is-a-Lamp son of Lamp, the general of his army, had lain down. Asked-For was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.
6And Beloved asked My-Brother-Is-King the Son-of-Terror and My-Father-Is-a-Gift son of Balm, He-Who-Is-Father’s brother, “He-Who-Is-Father will go down with me to Asked-For in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered My-Father-Is-a-Gift.
7That night Beloved and My-Father-Is-a-Gift came to the troops, and Asked-For was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And My-Father-Is-a-Lamp and the troops were lying around him.
8My-Father-Is-a-Gift said to Beloved, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”
9But Beloved said to My-Father-Is-a-Gift, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against He-Who-Is’s anointed and be guiltless?”
10Beloved added, “As surely as He-Who-Is lives, He-Who-Is Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
11But He-Who-Is forbid that I should extend my hand against He-Who-Is’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”
12So Beloved took the spear and water jug by Asked-For’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 He-Who-Is had fallen on them.
13Then Beloved crossed to the other side and stood atop the mountain at a distance; there was a wide gulf between them.
14And Beloved shouted to the troops and to My-Father-Is-a-Lamp son of Lamp, “Will you not answer me, My-Father-Is-a-Lamp?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” My-Father-Is-a-Lamp replied.
15So Beloved said to My-Father-Is-a-Lamp, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Strives-with-God is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?
16This thing you have done is not good. As surely as He-Who-Is lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, He-Who-Is’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
17Then Asked-For recognized Beloved’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, Beloved my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” Beloved said.
18And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If He-Who-Is has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of He-Who-Is! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of He-Who-Is, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
20So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of He-Who-Is. For the king of Strives-with-God has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Asked-For replied, “I have sinned. Come back, Beloved my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
22“Here is the king’s spear,” Beloved answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23May He-Who-Is repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For He-Who-Is delivered you into my hand today, but I would not extend my hand against He-Who-Is’s anointed.
24As surely as I valued your life today, so may He-Who-Is value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”
25Asked-For said to him, “May you be blessed, Beloved my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So Beloved went on his way, and Asked-For returned home.