When David was at a safe distance from the camp he stood on the top of a hill and cried with a loud voice to the people and to Abner, saying, "Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant." Again the acknowledgment fell from the lips of the king, "I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it." Although Saul had made the promise, "I will no more do thee harm," David did not place himself in his power.

Nu havde David to gange givet tilkende, hvor højt han agtede kongens liv. Anden gang gjorde det et endnu dybere indtyk på Saul, at han indrømmede ydmygt sin brøde. Det overraskede ham og smeltede hans hjerte at se et menneske vise ham en sådan venlighed. Da Saul skiltes fra David, sagde han: "Velsignet være du, min søn David! For dig lykkes alt, hvad du tager dig for!" Men Isajs søn gjorde sig ingen forhåbninger om, at kongen ville blive ved at være i dette lune.