1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul’s Life
1 (24:2) When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, “Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find#tn Heb “to search [for].” David and his men in the region of#tn Heb “upon the face of.” the rocks of the mountain goats.#tn Or “the region of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats,” if this expression is understood as a place name (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV). 3 He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself.#tn Heb “to cover his feet,” an idiom (euphemism) for relieving oneself (cf. NAB “to ease nature”).
Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave. 4 David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.’”#tn Heb “is good in your eyes.” So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward David’s conscience bothered him#tn Heb “the heart of David struck him.” because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the Lord’s chosen one,#tn Heb “anointed.” by extending my hand against him. After all,#tn Or “for.” he is the Lord’s chosen one.”#tn Heb “anointed.” 7 David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down#tn Heb “went on.” the road.
8 Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, “My lord, O king!” When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you pay attention when men say, ‘David is seeking to do you harm’? 10 Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you – this very day – into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity#tn Heb “it had pity,” apparently with the understood subject being “my eye,” in accordance with a common expression. on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’#tn Heb “anointed.” 11 Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning#tn Heb “there is not in my hand.” evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you. 13 It’s like the old proverb says: ‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!”
16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept loudly.#tn Heb “lifted his voice and wept.” 17 He said to David, “You are more innocent#tn Or “righteous” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “you are in the right”; NLT “are a better man than I am.” than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! 18 You have explained today how you have treated me well. The Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. 19 Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the Lord repay you with good this day for what you have done to me. 20 Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So now swear to me in the Lord’s name#tn Heb “by the Lord.” that you will not kill#tn Heb “cut off.” my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.”
22 David promised Saul this on oath.#tn Heb “and David swore an oath to Saul.” Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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1 Samuel 24
24
1And Dauid went thence, and dwelt in holdes at En-gedi. 2When Saul was turned from ye Philistims, they told him, saying, Behold, Dauid is in the wildernes of En-gedi. 3Then Saul tooke three thousande chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seeke Dauid and his men vpon the rocks among the wilde goates. 4And hee came to the sheepecoates by the way where there was a caue, and Saul went in to do his easement: and Dauid and his men sate in the inward parts of the caue. 5And the men of Dauid said vnto him, See, the day is come, whereof the Lord sayde vnto thee, Beholde, I will deliuer thine enemie into thine hande, and thou shalt doe to him as it shall seeme good to thee. Then Dauid arose and cut off the lap of Sauls garment priuily. 6And afterward Dauid was touched in his heart, because he had cut off the lappe which was on Sauls garment. 7And he said vnto his men, The Lord keepe mee from doing that thing vnto my master the Lords Anoynted, to lay mine hand vpon him: for he is the Anoynted of the Lord. 8So Dauid ouercame his seruants with these words, and suffered them not to arise against Saul: so Saul rose vp out of the caue and went away. 9Dauid also arose afterward, and went out of the caue, and cryed after Saul, saying, O my lorde the King. And when Saul looked behinde him, Dauid inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himselfe. 10And Dauid saide to Saul, Wherefore giuest thou an eare to mens words, that say, Behold, Dauid seeketh euill against thee? 11Behold, this day thine eyes haue seene, that the Lord had deliuered thee this day into mine hand in the caue, and some bade me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and said, I will not lay mine hande on my master: for he is the Lordes Anoynted. 12Moreouer my father, behold: behold, I say, the lappe of thy garment in mine hand: for when I cut off the lappe of thy garment, I killed thee not. Vnderstad and see, that there is neither euil nor wickednesse in mee, neither haue I sinned against thee, yet thou huntest after my soule to take it. 13The Lord be iudge betweene thee and me, and the Lord auenge me of thee, and let not mine hand be vpon thee. 14According as the olde prouerbe sayeth, Wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand be not vpon thee. 15After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whome doest thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea? 16The Lord therfore be iudge, and iudge betweene thee and me, and see, and pleade my cause, and deliuer me out of thine hand. 17Whe Dauid had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul sayd, Is this thy voyce, my sonne Dauid? and Saul lift vp his voice, and wept, 18And sayd to Dauid, Thou art more righteous then I: for thou hast rendred me good, and I haue rendred thee euill. 19And thou hast shewed this day, that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had closed me in thine hands, thou killedst me not. 20For who shall finde his enemie, and let him depart free? wherefore the Lord render thee good for that thou hast done vnto me this day. 21For now behold, I know that thou shalt be King, and that the kingdome of Israel shall be stablished in thine hand. 22Sweare now therfore vnto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seede after me, and that thou wilt not abolish my name out of my fathers house. 23So Dauid sware vnto Saul, and Saul went home: but Dauid and his men went vp vnto ye hold.
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