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.#The first of two accounts (see chap. 26) in which David spares Saul’s life. The two accounts, which do not make reference to each other, are probably alternative versions of the same story. 1David then went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi. 2When Saul returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, he was told that David was in the desert near Engedi. 3So Saul took three thousand of the best men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. 4When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.#Ps 57.
5David’s servants said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you: I will deliver your enemy into your hand; do with him as you see fit.” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe. 6Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s robe.#1 Sm 15:27. 7He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”#1 Sm 10:1; 26:9; 31:4; 2 Sm 1:14. 8With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. 9David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed, his face to the ground in homage, 10and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? 11You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 12Look here, my father. See the end of your robe which I hold. I cut off an end of your robe and did not kill you. Now see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life.#Rom 12:19. 13May the Lord judge between me and you. May the Lord exact justice from you in my case. I shall not lay a hand on you. 14As the old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness.’ Thus I will not lay a hand on you. 15What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!#2 Sm 9:8; 16:9. 16The Lord will be the judge to decide between us. May the Lord see this, defend my cause, and give me justice against you!”#1 Sm 18:19, 31; 26:19; Ps 35:1–3; 43:1.
Saul’s Remorse. 17When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And he wept freely. 18Saul then admitted to David: “You are more in the right than I am. You have treated me graciously, while I have treated you badly. 19You have declared this day how you treated me graciously: the Lord delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. 20For if someone comes upon an enemy, do they send them graciously on their way? So may the Lord reward you graciously for what you have done this day. 21And now, since I know that you will certainly become king and that the kingship over Israel shall come into your possession,#1 Sm 26:25. 22swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants and that you will not blot out my name from my father’s house.”#2 Sm 9:1–3. 23David gave Saul his oath and Saul returned home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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