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1 Samuel 26:6

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 26:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
1 Samuel 26:6 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
5And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him.
6Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.
8Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.
9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah`s anointed, and be guiltless?
← 1 Samuel 26:51 Samuel 26:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then answered David, etc.] Or addressed himself to the two following persons: and said to Ahimelech the Hittite; who was either an Hittite by birth, but was become a proselyte, or he was an Israelite that had dwelt among the Hittites, and so had this name given him; the former seems most probable; some say f512 this was Uriah the Hittite: and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab; Zeruiah was the sister of David, (<130215>1 Chronicles 2:15,16); and these were two sons of hers, who very probably joined David at the cave of Adullam, (<092201>1 Samuel 22:1); saying, who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? that is, which of you two? and Abishai said, I will go down with thee; the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Ahimelech the Hittite - Only mentioned here. Uriah was also a Hittite. Abishai - He was son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, but probably about the same age as David. He because very famous as a warrior 2 Samuel 23:18, but was implicated with his brother Joab in the murder of Abner in retaliation for the death of their brother Asahel 2 Samuel 3:30. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Zerujah - David's sister. His father is not named either because he was now dead; or because he was an obscure person. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 26:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“26:6 This is the only reference to Ahimelech the Hittite. • Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chr 2:16), so Abishai was David’s nephew. The sons of Zeruiah (Abishai, Joab, and Asahel) were three of David’s most faithful followers (e.g., 2 Sam 2:18), but they sometimes caused David difficulty (see 2 Sam 3:39; 16:10; 19:22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Hittite: Gen 10:15, Gen 15:20; Sa2 11:6, Sa2 11:21, Sa2 11:24, Sa2 12:9, Sa2 23:39 to Abishai: Sa2 2:18, Sa2 16:9, Sa2 16:10, Sa2 18:5, Sa2 23:18; Ch1 2:16 Zeruiah: Ch1 2:15, Ch1 2:16 Who will go: Sa1 14:6, Sa1 14:7; Jdg 7:10, Jdg 7:11 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 26:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification