1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul’s Life
1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the #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 #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 #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 #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.”
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 #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
1 Samuel 24
1¶ And it came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3And he came to a flock of sheep by the way where there was a cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet, and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4Then the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand that thou may do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and silently cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.
5And it came to pass afterward that David’s heart smote him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6And he said unto his men, The Lord keep me from doing this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
7So David stayed his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and worshipped.
9¶ And David said to Saul, Why hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?
10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee today into my hand in the cave, and some bade me kill thee, but I forgave thee, and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see; see the skirt of thy robe is even in my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and did not kill thee, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou doest hunt my life to take it.
12The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea?
15The Lord, therefore, shall judge, and he shall judge between me and thee. Let him see and plead my cause, and defend me from thy hand.
16¶ And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast repaid me with good, whereas I have repaid thee with evil.
18And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe and sound? The Lord reward thee with good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be firm and stable in thy hand.
21Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22Then David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up unto the fortress.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International