1 Samuel 24
24
David Doesn’t Kill Saul When He Has the Chance
1Saul returned from chasing the Philistines. Then he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2So Saul took 3,000 of the best soldiers from the whole nation of Israel. He started out to look for David and his men. He planned to look near the Rocky Cliffs of the Wild Goats.
3He came to some sheep pens along the way. A cave was there. Saul went in to go to the toilet. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4David’s men said, “This is the day the Lord told you about. He said to you, ‘I will hand your enemy over to you. Then you can deal with him as you want to.’ ” So David came up close to Saul without being seen. He cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5Later, David felt sorry that he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing a thing like that again to my master. He is the Lord’s anointed king. So I promise that I will never lay my hand on him. The Lord has anointed him.” 7David said that to correct his men. He wanted them to know that they should never suggest harming the king. He didn’t allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, “King Saul! My master!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground. 9He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? 10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I didn’t. I said, ‘I will never lay my hand on my master. He is the Lord’s anointed king.’ 11Look, my father! Look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe. But I didn’t kill you. See, there is nothing in my hand that shows I am guilty of doing anything wrong. I haven’t turned against you. I haven’t done anything to harm you. But you are hunting me down. You want to kill me. 12May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord pay you back because of the wrong things you have done to me. But I won’t do anything to hurt you. 13People say, ‘Evil acts come from those who do evil.’ So I won’t do anything to hurt you.
14“King Saul, who are you trying to catch? Who do you think you are chasing? I’m nothing but a dead dog or a flea! 15May the Lord be our judge. May he decide between us. May he consider my case and stand up for me. May he show that I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong. May he save me from you.”
16When David finished speaking, Saul asked him a question. He said, “My son David, is that your voice?” And Saul wept out loud. 17“You are a better person than I am,” he said. “You have treated me well. But I’ve treated you badly. 18You have just now told me about the good things you did to me. The Lord handed me over to you. But you didn’t kill me. 19Suppose a man finds his enemy. He doesn’t let him get away without harming him. May the Lord reward you with many good things. May he do it because of the way you treated me today. 20I know for sure that you will be king. I know that the kingdom of Israel will be made secure under your control. 21Now make a promise in the name of the Lord. Promise me that you won’t kill the children of my family. Also promise me that you won’t wipe out my name from my family line.”
22So David made that promise to Saul. Then Saul returned home. But David and his men went up to his usual place of safety.
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1 Samuel 24: NIrV
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1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul in the Cave at En Gedi
1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.” 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and he and his men went to search for David in the direction of#Literally “on the face of” the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.#Hebrew “of the Jael” 3He came to the sheep pens beside the road, and a cave was there. Then Saul went in to relieve himself.#Literally “to cover his feet” Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost part of the cave. 4And David’s men said to him, “Look, today is the day about which Yahweh said to you, ‘See, I am giving your enemy#The Masoretic Hebrew text (Kethib) reads “enemies,” but the reading tradition (Qere) has the singular “enemy” into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems good to you.’ ”#Literally “as that which is good in your eyes” So David got up and secretly cut the hem of Saul’s robe. 5And then#Literally “And it happened” afterward David felt guilty,#Literally “the heart of David struck him” because he had cut the hem of Saul’s robe.#Literally “the hem which was for Saul” 6He said to his men, “Far be it from me in#Hebrew “from” Yahweh, that I do this thing to my lord, to Yahweh’s anointed one, by stretching out my hand against him! For he is the anointed one of Yahweh.” 7So David rebuked his men with the words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave, and he went on his#Hebrew “the” way.
8Then David got up afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked after him, David knelt down with his face to the ground and bowed down. 9Then David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say: ‘Look, David is seeking to do you harm’?#Literally “seeking your evil” 10Look, this day your eyes have seen that Yahweh gave you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you. But I took pity#Literally “she took pity,” with “she” = “my eye,” a common Hebrew expression on you and said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, because he is Yahweh’s anointed one.’ 11Now, my father, see, yes, see, the hem of your robe in my hand! For when I cut#Literally “at my cutting” the hem of your robe I did not kill you. Know and realize#Literally “see” that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I did not sin against you, but you are hunting down my life to take it. 12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you! 13Just as the ancient proverb says, ‘From the wicked, wickedness goes out,’ but my hand will not be against you! 14After whom did the king of Israel go out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea? 15May Yahweh be the judge, and let him judge between me and you, and may he see and plead my case. May he vindicate me against you!”#Literally “May he judge me from your hand”
16When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17Then he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me the good, but I have repaid you the evil. 18You have explained to me today that you have dealt well with me, how#Hebrew “that” Yahweh delivered me into your hand but you did not kill me. 19For a man has found his enemy but sent him on his way safely. Now may Yahweh reward you with good in return for this day, for what you have done for me. 20So now then, look, I know that you will certainly be king and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So then, swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants#Literally “seed” after me and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.” 22So David swore this on oath to Saul, and Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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