1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul’s Life
1#1Sa 23:28–29; 23:19When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, “David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2#1Sa 26:2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the rocks of the wild goats.
3#Jdg 3:24; Ps 57:1–11He came to the sheep pens by the way and a cave was there. And Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the rear of the cave. 4The men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I am giving your enemy into your hand. You may do with him as seems good in your eyes.’ ” Then David arose and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
5#2Sa 24:10Afterward David’s heart troubled him because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him. For he is anointed of the Lord.” 7#Ps 7:4So David dispersed his men by these words and did not let them rise against Saul. And Saul arose from the cave and went on his way.
8#1Sa 25:23–24David arose afterward and went out from the cave. And he called after Saul saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David had bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage. 9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men saying, ‘David seeks your harm’? 10#1Sa 24:4This day you have seen with your own eyes that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave. So that some said to kill you, but my eye had compassion on you. And I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is anointed of the Lord.’ 11#1Sa 26:20; 23:14See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand. Indeed, I cut off the corner of your robe, but I did not kill you. Observe and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I have not sinned against you, but you are lying in wait for my life to take it. 12#Ge 16:5; Jdg 11:27The Lord will judge between me and you, and the Lord will avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you. 13#Mt 7:16–18As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness,’ but my hand will not be against you.
14#1Sa 26:20; 17:43“After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? A single flea? 15#1Sa 24:12; Ps 35:1May the Lord be judge, and decide between me and you. And may He see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16#1Sa 26:17When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17#1Sa 26:21; Mt 5:44And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I. For you have rewarded me with good, while I have rewarded you with evil. 18#1Sa 26:23And you have shown today that you have dealt well with me, when the Lord delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him safely go away? Therefore may the Lord reward you well for what you have done for me this day. 20#1Sa 23:17Now, listen, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21#Ge 21:23; 2Sa 21:6–8Therefore swear to me now by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s household.”
22#1Sa 23:29So David swore to Saul and Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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1 Samuel 24: MEV
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Military Bible Association
1 Kings 24
24
1Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of Engaddi.
2And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.
3Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.
4And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature. Now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave.
5And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
6After which David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
7And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord's anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord's anointed.
8And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out of the cave, went on his way.
9And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: and David, bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped,
10And said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men that say, David seeketh thy hurt?
11Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath delivered thee into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill thee, but my eye hath spared thee. For I said: I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord's anointed.
12Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my hand, that when I cut off the hem of thy robe I would not put out my hand against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity; neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in wait for my life, to take it away.
13The Lord judge between me and thee; and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel?
15After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea?
16Be the Lord judge; and judge between me and thee; and see, and judge my cause; and deliver me out of thy hand.
17And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
18And he said to David: Thou art more just than I. For thou hast done good to me; and I have rewarded thee with evil.
19And thou hast shewn this day what good things thou hast done to me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand; and thou hast not killed me.
20For who, when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day.
21And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand;
22Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.
23And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David and his men went up into safer places.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.