The Church Fathers on this verse

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 26:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul's head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

Douay-Rheims

וַיִּקַּח֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֜ית וְאֶת־צַפַּ֤חַת הַמַּ֙יִם֙ מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֣ין רֹאֶה֩ וְאֵ֨ין יוֹדֵ֜עַ וְאֵ֣ין מֵקִ֗יץ כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ יְשֵׁנִ֔ים כִּ֚י תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה נָפְלָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

After cutting off a portion of his robe, as detailed in 1 Samuel 24:5, and filling a container with water, he moved away to a distance and called out to the afflicted man, exhibiting the garment not out of pride or desire for recognition, but with the intention of demonstrating through his actions that the man’s perception of him as an adversary was misplaced, seeking to foster reconciliation between them.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.