The Perspective of Distance: Lessons from David's Retreat

"¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:" - 1 Samuel 26:13

"¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:" - 1 Samuel 26:{verse.verse_number}

In 1 Samuel 26:13, we find a poignant moment encapsulated in the words of the King James Version: "Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them." This scene unfolds as David, once again, finds himself pursued by King Saul, the very person he had once served loyally. The intense drama of this narrative brings forth a multitude of themes around perspective, distance, and the heart of a true leader.

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1 Samuel 26:13 Artwork

1 Samuel 26:13 - "¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:"

1 Samuel 26:13 - "¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:"

"¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:" - 1 Samuel 26:13

"¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:" - 1 Samuel 26:13

1 Samuel 2:26 - "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

1 Samuel 2:26 - "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

1 Samuel 16:1–13

1 Samuel 16:1–13

1 Samuel 12:13

1 Samuel 12:13

1 Samuel 15:26 (KJVA)
26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:26 (KJVA) 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

1 Samuel 12:13

1 Samuel 12:13

1 Samuel 26:4 - "David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed."

1 Samuel 26:4 - "David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed."

1 Samuel 26:1 - "And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?"

1 Samuel 26:1 - "And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?"

2 Samuel 13:26 - "Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?"

2 Samuel 13:26 - "Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?"

1 Samuel 22:11-13

1 Samuel 22:11-13

1 Samuel 15:26 - "And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel."

1 Samuel 15:26 - "And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel."

1 Samuel 9:26 - "And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad."

1 Samuel 9:26 - "And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad."

1 Samuel 15:13 - "And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

1 Samuel 15:13 - "And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

1 Samuel 13:8 - "¶ And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him."

1 Samuel 13:8 - "¶ And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him."

"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." - 1 Samuel 2:26

"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." - 1 Samuel 2:26

1 Samuel 13:23 - "And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash."

1 Samuel 13:23 - "And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash."

1 Samuel 13:1 - "Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,"

1 Samuel 13:1 - "Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,"

1 Samuel 13:13 - "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."

1 Samuel 13:13 - "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."

1 Samuel 13:12
Saul's disobedience

1 Samuel 13:12 Saul's disobedience

1 Samuel 10:26 - "¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched."

1 Samuel 10:26 - "¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched."

1 Samuel 7:13 - "¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel."

1 Samuel 7:13 - "¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel."

1 Samuel 8:13 - "And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers."

1 Samuel 8:13 - "And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers."

1 Samuel 13:12
No face of persons

1 Samuel 13:12 No face of persons

1 Samuel 26:22 - "And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it."

1 Samuel 26:22 - "And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it."

1 Chronicles 26:13 - "¶ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate."

1 Chronicles 26:13 - "¶ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate."

1 Samuel 16:13 - "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."

1 Samuel 16:13 - "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah."

1 Samuel 1:26 - "And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD."

1 Samuel 1:26 - "And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD."

1 Samuel 13:15 - "And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men."

1 Samuel 13:15 - "And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men."

1 Samuel 18:26 - "And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired."

1 Samuel 18:26 - "And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired."