1 Samuel 26:12 (NLT)
David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.
DRAWING NOTES:
TIME OF DAY:
Night.
LIGHTING NOTES:
There is feeble moon light illuminating the scene from the left.
CHARACTERS PRESENT:
David is the man on the left puling Saul’s spear from the ground and taking his water jug. Saul (son of Kish) is the man asleep in the centre of the picture.
Abishai (son of Zeruiah, nephew of David) is the man standing near the sleeping Saul, looking ready to thrust his spear into the king! Abner (son of Ner) is the sleeping man in the bottom left of the picture.
RESEARCH/ADDITIONAL NOTES:
There are two versions of this scene:
01) (This page) 1 Samuel 26 – David spares Saul again – Scene 03 – David takes spear (Dark version). In which the figures, camels, ground and other foreground items are shadowy.
02) (Next page) 1 Samuel 26 – David spares Saul again – Scene 03 – David takes spear (Colour version). In this version I have made the figures & other foreground details lighter & the colours stand out a lot more.
I liked colouring this scene in dark blue, night time shades in the first version. I have added feint blue-white highlights on the left hand side of the figures, camels, ground and distant mountains. Notice there are some stars to be seen in the sky as well.
I have created the colour version for customers who want a bit more colour in the scene!
Notice Saul’s spear has a small spike at the handle end, which has the following purpose:
“The Oriental spear had, and still has, a spike at the lower extremity, intended for the purpose of sticking the spear into the ground when the warrior is at rest. This common custom of Arab sheiks was also the practice of the Hebrew chiefs.”
[Source: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary]