Read 1 Samuel 26 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
25:44-26:7 {s} Saul unrighteousness toward David/ the LORD delivered Saul into David’s hand
26:8-9 {p} David spares Saul’s life a second time
26:10-14 {p} David removes Saul’s spear and water
26:15-24 {p} David pleads his innocence to Saul/ Saul a 2nd time repents of hunting him
26:25 {p} Saul blessed David, and returned to his place
The Strong themes:
25:2-26:9 {sx3+p} Abigail’s wisdom and David’s mercy in the face of Nabal’s and Saul’s un-righteousness
26:10-25 {px3} David’s innocence toward Saul, so that Saul repents, blesses David
1 Samuel 23:19-26:25 Chiastic Structure:
In the midst of the unrighteousness of others, which flanks David on every side, is blessing:
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from YHVH. Pro 18:22
We only learn after David’s marriage to Abigail that Saul had unjustly taken David’s wife Michel from him. However, God did not leave him without his helpmate, but provided a worthy woman for him in Abigail. And as for Abigail, God delivered her from a depraved fool for a husband, to the beloved of YHVH for a husband, “beloved” being the meaning of David’s name in Hebrew.
Both David and Abigail were in sore straits and in need concerning their spouses, but neither of them acted unjustly or unwisely to bring about a better outcome through their own manipulation. They waited on YHVH, and YHVH delivered them.
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