A reading from 1 Samuel.

Then the Ziphytes came to Saul at Gibbia saying,

Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Akela, which is on the east of Jashiman?

So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Zip, with 3,000 chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Zip,

and Saul encamped on the hill of

Akila, which is beside the road on the east of Jishiman. But David remained in the wilderness.

When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies and learned that

Saul had indeed come. Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul

lay, with Abner the son of Nur, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment,

while the army was encamped around him. Then David said to Ohimilek the Hittite and to Joab's brother

Abyshi, the son of Zeruhria. Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?

And Abyshi said, I will go down with you.

So David and Abyshi went to the army by night, and there lay Saul sleeping within the

encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around

him.

Then Abishai said to David,

God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one

stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice. But David said to Abyshi,

Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?

And David said, As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die,

or he will go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against

the Lord's anointed, but take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water and let us go.

...