1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul’s Life
1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the #24:1 I.e. an oasis overlooking the Dead (Salt) Sea.Wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3On the way he came to the #24:3 This was a wall of stones that had been unearthed from the field and stacked on each other as an enclosure for the flocks. The wall probably was built from the mouth of the cave and back.sheepfolds where there was a cave; and Saul went in to #24:3 Lit cover his feet, a euphemism for the squatting position that one would take, with the outer robe touching the ground and concealing one’s feet as a result.relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave’s innermost recesses. 4David’s men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will hand over your enemy to you, and you shall do to him as seems good to you.’ ” Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the hem (edge) of Saul’s robe. 5Afterward, David’s #24:5 Lit heart struck him.conscience bothered him because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7So David strongly rebuked his men with these words and did not let them rise up against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave and went on his way.
8Then David also got up afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and lay himself face down. 9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David seeks to harm you?’ 10Behold, your eyes have seen today how the Lord had given you into my hand in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not reach out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11Look, my father! Indeed, see the hem of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the hem of your robe and did not kill you, know and understand [without question] that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait to take my life. 12May the Lord judge between me and you; and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue [with three thousand men]? A dead dog, a single flea? 15May the Lord be the judge and render judgment between me and you; and may He see and plead my cause and vindicate me by saving me from your hand.” [Ps 142]
16When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept. 17He said to David, “You are more righteous and upright [in God’s eyes] than I; for you have done good to me, but I have done evil to you. 18You have declared today the good that you have done to me, for when the Lord put me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away #24:19 Lit on a good road.unharmed? So may the Lord reward you with good in return for what you have done for me this day. 20Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household (extended family).” 22David gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the mountain stronghold.
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1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul
1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines,#1Sm 23:28–29 he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”#1Sm 23:19 2So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young men#1Sm 13:2; 26:2 and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself.#24:3 Lit to cover his feet#Jdg 3:24 David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,#Ps 57; Ps 142 4so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
5Afterward, David’s conscience bothered#24:5 Lit David’s heart struck#2Sm 24:10 him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.#24:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss omit robe 6He said to his men, “As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.#1Sm 26:9–11 I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”#1Sm 10:1 7With these words David persuaded#24:7 Or restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.
Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.#1Sm 25:23–24; 1Kg 1:31 9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.#Ps 7:3–4 Someone advised me to kill you,#1Sm 24:4 but I#24:10 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads she or it#24:10 Or my eye took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11Look, my father!#2Kg 5:13 Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize#24:11 Lit Know and see that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.#1Sm 23:14,23; 26:20
12“May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.#1Sm 26:10–11,23 13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’#Mt 7:16–20; Lk 6:43–45 My hand will never be against you. 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?#1Sm 26:20; 2Sm 9:8 15May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver#24:15 Lit render a verdict for me from you.”#Ps 35:1
16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” #1Sm 26:17 Then Saul wept aloud 17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.#1Sm 26:21 18You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.#1Sm 26:23 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?#24:19 Lit go on a good way#1Sm 23:17; Pr 16:29 May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.
20“Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established#24:20 Or will flourish in your hand.#1Sm 13:14; 16:1–13 21Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”#Gn 21:23; 1Sm 20:14–17; 2Sm 21:6–8 22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.#1Sm 23:29
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