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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1 Samuel 24: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
1 Samuel 24
24
David lets Saul live
1When Saul got back from fighting off the Philistines, he heard that David was in the desert around En-Gedi. 2Saul led three thousand of Israel's best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks at En-Gedi. 3There were some sheep pens along the side of the road, and one of them was built around the entrance to a cave. Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.#Ps 57 Title; Ps 142 Title.
David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave. 4They whispered to David, “The LORD told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day the LORD was talking about.”
David sneaked over and cut off a small piece#24.4 small piece: Hebrew “corner” or “lower hem”. of Saul's robe, but Saul didn't notice a thing. 5Afterwards, David was sorry that he had even done that, 6-7and he told his men, “Stop talking foolishly. We're not going to attack Saul. He's my king, and I pray that the LORD will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.”#1 S 26.11.
Saul left the cave and started down the road. 8Soon, David also got up and left the cave. “Your Majesty!” he shouted from a distance.
Saul turned around to look. David bowed down very low 9and said:
Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I'm trying to harm you? 10You can see for yourself that the LORD gave me the chance to catch you in the cave today. Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn't let them do it. I told them, “I will not harm the LORD's chosen king!” 11Your Majesty, look at what I'm holding. You can see that it's a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I'm not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven't done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.
12I'll let the LORD decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the LORD will punish you for what you're doing to me, but I won't do anything to you. 13An old proverb says, “Only evil people do evil things,” and so I won't harm you.
14Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.#1 S 26.20. 15I pray that the LORD will help me escape and show that I am in the right.
16“David, my son—is that you?” Saul asked. Then he started crying 17and said:
David, you're a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness, even though I've been cruel to you. 18You've told me how you were kind enough not to kill me when the LORD gave you the chance. 19If you really were my enemy, you wouldn't have let me leave here alive. I pray that the LORD will give you a big reward for what you did today.
20I realize now that you will be the next king, and a powerful king at that. 21Promise me with the LORD as your witness, that you won't wipe out my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.
22So David promised, and Saul went home. David and his men returned to their hideout.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012