Chapter 26

Saul hears from the Ziphites again (they seem to be quite a bunch of tattle tales) that David is in Hachilah, and takes 3000 men to get him.  David has 600 men.  Saul likes to win big I guess.

David and Abishai sneak into Saul's camp and get close enough to kill him.  Abishai offers to do the deed.  David's reply:

10 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. [1Sa 26:10 ESV]

David won't kill God's anointed, but leaves it for God to take care of as He sees fit.  David is content for Saul to live out his life to an old age if God wills it.  Or David is fine if God strikes Saul dead in the next five minutes.  But David will not be the instrument of Saul's death.

Instead, he steals Saul's spear and a water jar.  Next morning, David pokes fun at Abner, the King's commander, because he let David get so close.  He impugns Abner's skills.  Likely David makes an enemy for life shaming the commander in front of his troops.  David asks Saul why he chases a flea in the desert, who's done nothing to harm him.

Saul says he has sinned.