Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Samuel 26:8-11
David Restrains Abishai From Smiting The Sleeping Saul Because Saul Is YHWH's Own, And Instead Commands The Appropriation Of His Ceremonial Spear And Water Jar (1 Samuel 26:8).
Having arrived at dead of night by the sleeping Saul Abishai wished to take the opportunity to slay Saul, but David forbade him because Saul was the anointed of YHWH. Instead he commanded him to take his spear, the symbol of his kingship, and his water jar, the symbol of his life, as trophies which would demonstrate both that they could have taken his life, and that they would one day take his kingship (compare how previously this latter had been symbolised by taking part of the hem of Saul's robe, a hem which signified his kingship- 1 Samuel 24:4; 1 Samuel 24:11).
Analysis.
a Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day, now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time” (1 Samuel 26:8)
b And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put forth his hand against YHWH's anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9).
c And David said, “As YHWH lives, YHWH will smite him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish” (1 Samuel 26:10).
b “YHWH forbid that I should put forth my hand against YHWH's anointed” (1 Samuel 26:11 a).
a “But now take, I pray you, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go” (1 Samuel 26:11 b).
Note that in ‘a' Abishai wishes to smite Saul with his own spear, taking his life, and in the parallel David rather commands him to steal Saul's spear and his jar of water, symbolically taking his life. In ‘b' David points out that Saul is YHWH's anointed, and therefore inviolate to any but YHWH, and in the parallel stresses that to slay him was forbidden by God because he is YHWH's anointed.
‘ Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day, now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.” '
Abishai was delighted to find a sleeping Saul at their mercy and pointed out to David in a quiet whisper that God had delivered Saul into their hands. Indeed he guaranteed that, if granted permission, he would at one stroke of the spear smite Saul so that he lay dead. He would not need to smite a second time. David's men had by now become confident and highly trained warriors.
‘ And David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put forth his hand against YHWH's anointed, and be guiltless?” '
But David would not permit it. He equally quietly forbade him to harm Saul, on the grounds that Saul was YHWH's anointed. To strike one who was holy to YHWH, as a result of being set apart for Him by anointing, would be to incur the most grievous guilt. Such a one was in the hands of YHWH to live or to die, not in the hands of men. This is a reminder to us that the prime significance of anointing was that of being wholly dedicated to God. Any power subsequently received was for the purpose of fulfilling that dedication.
‘ And David said, “As YHWH lives, YHWH will smite him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.”
David then made clear the reason for his decision. YHWH was the living God. Thus He was alone responsible for those who were His anointed. None other must touch them. The consequence was that the smiting of Saul, or otherwise, lay in YHWH's hands. If YHWH chose he would be smitten, or he would die naturally, or he would perish in battle, the three ways in which a king might expect to die. But all was to be in the hands of YHWH (a sign of the authenticity and integrity of the whole book is that he does not suggest what in fact was Saul's end, that he kill himself).
“YHWH forbid that I should put forth my hand against YHWH's anointed.”
David then recoiled in horror at the thought of putting out his hand against YHWH's anointed. To do so would be sacrilege. It would be to despoil YHWH. It was God-forbidden. (Nor did he take a way out by allowing his men to do it. He was honest to his convictions).
“But now take, I pray you, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.”
Instead what they were to do was take Saul's ceremonial spear, the symbol of his kingship, and his water jar, the symbol of his very life (see 2 Samuel 23:16), and then leave the camp while they were still safe.