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’s Life
1 # 24:1
1 Samuel 24:1–22
in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 24:2–23 in the Hebrew Bible. When Saul came back from ⌞fighting⌟ the Philistines, he was told “Now David is in the desert near En Gedi.” 2Then Saul took 3,000 of the best-trained men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3He came to some sheep pens along the road where there was a cave. Saul went into ⌞it⌟ to relieve himself while David and his men were sitting further back in the cave.
4David’s men told him, “Today is the day the Lord referred to when he said, ‘I’m going to hand your enemy over to you. You will do to him whatever you think is right.’ ”
David quietly got up and cut off the border of Saul’s robe. 5But afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the border of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “It would be unthinkable for me to raise my hand against His Majesty, the Lord’s anointed king, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7So David stopped his men by saying this to them and didn’t let them attack Saul.
Saul left the cave and went out onto the road. 8Later, David got up, left the cave, and called to Saul, “Your Majesty!” When Saul looked back, David knelt down with his face touching the ground. 9David asked Saul, “Why do you listen to rumors that I am trying to harm you? 10Today you saw how the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you, I spared you, saying, ‘I will not raise my hand against Your Majesty because you are the Lord’s anointed.’ 11My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn’t kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life. 12May the Lord decide between you and me. May the Lord take revenge on you for what you did to me. However, I will not lay a hand on you. 13It’s like people used to say long ago, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’ But I will not lay a hand on you. 14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? One flea? 15So the Lord must be the judge. He will decide between you and me. He will watch and take my side in ⌞this⌟ matter and set me free from you.”
16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, my servant David?” and Saul cried loudly. 17He told David, “You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly. 18Today you have proved how good you’ve been to me. When the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me. 19When a person finds an enemy, does he send him away unharmed? The Lord will repay you completely for what you did for me today. 20Now I know that you certainly will rule as king, and under your guidance the kingdom of Israel will prosper. 21Swear an oath to the Lord for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father’s family.”
22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went home, and David and his men went to their fortified camp.
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