1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul at En-gedi
1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2So Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the mountain goats.
3When he came across the sheepfolds along the way where there was a cave, Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were already sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
4So David’s men said to him, “Look, it’s the day Adonai spoke to you about, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, so you may do to him as seems good in your eyes.’” Then David crept and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe stealthily.
5But afterward, David’s conscience bothered him for cutting off the edge of Saul’s robe.
6So he said to his fellow men, “Adonai forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, Adonai’s anointed, stretching out my hand against him—for he is Adonai’s anointed.”
7So David persuaded his fellow men with these words and did not let them rise against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8David also rose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out after Saul saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and prostrated himself.
9Then David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words saying: ‘Look, David intends you harm’?
10Look, today your own eyes should see how Adonai delivered you today into my hand, in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but my eye had pity on you, and I said: ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Adonai’s anointed.’
11Moreover, my father, see! Yes, look at the corner of your robe in my hand! For in cutting off the corner of your robe, yet not killing you, you should know and realize that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I haven’t sinned against you, even though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.
12May Adonai judge between me and you, and may Adonai avenge me of you, but my hand will not be against you.
13As the old proverb goes, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’—but my hand will never be on you.
14Whom has the king of Israel come after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?
15May Adonai be judge and decide between me and you! And may He see and plead my cause and vindicate me against you.”
16Now when David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son, David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept aloud.
17Then he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done good to me, while I have done evil to you.
18You’ve told today how well you’ve dealt with me, for Adonai had delivered me up into your hand, yet you did not kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away on a good road? May Adonai reward you with good in return for what you have done to me today.
20Now behold, I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will rise in your hand.
21Swear now to me by Adonai that you won’t cut off my descendants after me, and that you won’t wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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 3,000 of Israel’s choice 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. # Lit to cover his feet # Jdg 3:24 David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, # Pss 57, 142 titles 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 # Lit David’s heart struck # 2Sm 24:10 him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. # Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss omit robe 6He said to his men, “I swear before the Lord: 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 # 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 bowed to the ground in 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 # LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads she or it # 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. 11See, 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. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. 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 you and me, 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 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 # 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? # 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 # 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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