Today I read 1 Samuel 26 where David again has a chance to kill Saul and does not take it. He does however steal Saul's spear and his container of water to show that he had the chance and did not take it. Saul once again acknowledges how much more righteous David is than he is. However, as I was reading this I could not but help draw similarities between this story and when Teancum kills Amalickiah in the Book of Mormon.
All of David's men keep telling him that the Lord has delivered Saul into his hands and yet David does not slay Saul. However, in the Book of Mormon, Teancum slays Amalickiah by sneaking into his tent late at night and killing him in his sleep. However, the difference is that Saul was trying to kill David only. Yes it was an unrighteous desire but at this point Saul has not really done much destruction beyond seeking to kill David, that we are told. Amalickiah however had started a war and had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
Teancum was trying to stop a way when he slew Amalickiah in cold blood and I think that is why he was justified in the Lord's eyes. At least I have always assumed he was justified since the scriptures talk about how righteous Teancum was. If David had killed Saul however, he would only have been trying to save his own life, not anyone else's. So I think David was right to spare Saul's life. Now if Saul had attacked David, I could see himself protecting his life but to kill them man in his sleep, yes I don't think he would have been justified in doing it. Lucky for him he didn't. Until tomorrow.
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