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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I Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul
1Now it happened, #Josh. 15:62; 2 Chr. 20:2when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and #1 Sam. 23:19, 28, 29went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and #1 Sam. 26:2; Ps. 38:12Saul went in to #1 Sam. 24:10attend to his needs. (#Judg. 3:24David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) 4#Ps. 57:title; 142:titleThen the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5Now it happened afterward that #1 Sam. 26:8–11David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6And he said to his men, #2 Sam. 24:10“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7So David #1 Sam. 26:11restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9And David said to Saul: #Ps. 7:4; (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:17, 19)“Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is #Ps. 141:6; (Prov. 16:28; 17:9)neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you #Judg. 11:27; Ps. 7:3; 35:7hunt my life to take it. 12#1 Sam. 26:20Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, #Gen. 16:5; Judg. 11:27; 1 Sam. 26:10–23; Job 5:8‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? #(Matt. 7:16–20)A dead dog? #1 Sam. 17:43; 2 Sam. 9:8A flea? 15#1 Sam. 26:20Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and #1 Sam. 24:12see and #2 Chr. 24:22plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, #Ps. 35:1; 43:1; 119:154; Mic. 7:9“Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17#1 Sam. 26:17Then he said to David: “You are #1 Sam. 26:21more righteous than I; for #Gen. 38:26you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when #(Matt. 5:44)the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20And now #1 Sam. 26:23I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21#1 Sam. 23:17Therefore swear now to me by the Lord #Gen. 21:23; 1 Sam. 20:14–17that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”
22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to #2 Sam. 21:6–8the stronghold.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.