He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
Parallel Translations
-
He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
-
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
-
And he said: 'Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to 1 Samuel 26:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Samuel 24:9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’
- 1 Samuel 24:11-14 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it. May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
- Psalms 7:3-5 Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust.
- Psalms 35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
- Psalms 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.
- John 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
- John 10:32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
- John 18:23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”
- 1 Samuel 17:29 David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (4 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Sa 26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord…
1Sa 26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?
Ver. 18. Wherefore doth my lord.] Nothing is more irrational than irreligion. Would wicked persons but consider their ways, as they are oft advised, {Hag 1:5; Hag 1:7} they would see them compact of mere incongruities and absurdities. But their lusts do so hang in their light that they think they have reason to be mad; and that there is no small sense in sinning.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And he said, wherefore doth my lord thus pursue…
And he said, wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant?.... Suggesting that it was both below him to do it, and against his interest; for David was his servant, and he would gladly have continued in his service, and done his business, but he drove him from it, and pursued him as a traitor, when he had not been guilty of any offence to his knowledge: and therefore puts the following questions:
for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? what crime had he committed, that he was pursued after this manner, and his life sought for? what had he done worthy of death? having a clear conscience, he could boldly ask these questions.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. And he said, &c.] With David’s speech here…
18. And he said, &c.] With David’s speech here compare that in 1Sa_24:9 ff. Here he affirms his innocence indirectly by challenging Saul to give his reasons for persecuting him: there he appeals directly to his having spared Saul’s life as a proof of his loyalty.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (18) What have I done?—The whole address of David…
(18) What have I done?—The whole address of David to Saul is intensely reverent, even loving. The conspicuous trophy of his late “night raid” was in his hand; we can imagine the first rays of the morning sun lighting up the glittering royal spear grasped by David. Saul could not help recognising that at least the son of Jesse sought not his life.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.