Explore the Bible Online

1 Samuel 26:8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the second time.

1 Samuel 26:8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 26:8

Theological / Devotional

Let me smite him. Abishai had not learned the difficult lesson of exercising magnanimity toward an enemy. Saul had started an intertribal feud between Benjamin and Judah, and Abishai evidently concluded that such an action called for retaliation.

Saul had thrown his spear at David, but had missed. Now, according to Abishai’s judgment, it was David’s turn, and as his bodyguard, Abishai was offering to act on behalf of his uncle.

By SdaBc