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’s Life
1 # 24:1 Ch 24:2 in Hebrew #ch. 23:28When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then Saul took #ch. 26:2three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in #Judg. 3:24 to relieve himself.#24:3 Hebrew cover his feet Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts #See Ps. 57; 142of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, #ver. 7; [ch. 26:8]“Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5And afterward #2 Sam. 24:10David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, #ch. 26:11 “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is #See ch. 12:3the Lord’s anointed.” 7So David persuaded his men with these words #[Ps. 7:4]and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. #ver. 4 And some told me to kill you, but I spared you.#24:10 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew it [my eye] spared you I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, #[See ver. 6 above]for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that #Ps. 7:3 there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though #ch. 26:20you hunt my life to take it. 12#Gen. 16:5; Judg. 11:27May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against 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? After whom do you pursue? #See ch. 17:43 After a dead dog! #ch. 26:20After a flea! 15#[See ver. 12 above] May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and #ch. 25:39; Ps. 35:1; 43:1; 119:154plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”
16As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, #ch. 26:17“Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, #[ch. 26:21]for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20And now, behold, #ch. 23:17I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21#[Gen. 21:23] Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and #[2 Sam. 21:7]that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up #ch. 23:29to the stronghold.
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