This took place in the Wilderness of Ziph. While King Saul and his army were sleeping, David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. Abishai wanted to kill Saul with his own spear, but David refused to harm "the Lord’s anointed."

Instead of killing him, David took Saul’s spear and the jar of water that were near his head as proof that he had the chance to take the King's life but chose mercy instead.