1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul at En–gedi
1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En–ge´di. 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3#Ps 57 Title; Ps 142 Title. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. 7So David stayed his servants with these words and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
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1 Samuel 24: KJVAAE
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul in the Cave at En Gedi
1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.” 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and he and his men went to search for David in the direction of#Literally “on the face of” the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.#Hebrew “of the Jael” 3He came to the sheep pens beside the road, and a cave was there. Then Saul went in to relieve himself.#Literally “to cover his feet” Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost part of the cave. 4And David’s men said to him, “Look, today is the day about which Yahweh said to you, ‘See, I am giving your enemy#The Masoretic Hebrew text (Kethib) reads “enemies,” but the reading tradition (Qere) has the singular “enemy” into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems good to you.’ ”#Literally “as that which is good in your eyes” So David got up and secretly cut the hem of Saul’s robe. 5And then#Literally “And it happened” afterward David felt guilty,#Literally “the heart of David struck him” because he had cut the hem of Saul’s robe.#Literally “the hem which was for Saul” 6He said to his men, “Far be it from me in#Hebrew “from” Yahweh, that I do this thing to my lord, to Yahweh’s anointed one, by stretching out my hand against him! For he is the anointed one of Yahweh.” 7So David rebuked his men with the words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave, and he went on his#Hebrew “the” way.
8Then David got up afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked after him, David knelt down with his face to the ground and bowed down. 9Then David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say: ‘Look, David is seeking to do you harm’?#Literally “seeking your evil” 10Look, this day your eyes have seen that Yahweh gave you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you. But I took pity#Literally “she took pity,” with “she” = “my eye,” a common Hebrew expression on you and said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, because he is Yahweh’s anointed one.’ 11Now, my father, see, yes, see, the hem of your robe in my hand! For when I cut#Literally “at my cutting” the hem of your robe I did not kill you. Know and realize#Literally “see” that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I did not sin against you, but you are hunting down my life to take it. 12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you! 13Just as the ancient proverb says, ‘From the wicked, wickedness goes out,’ but my hand will not be against you! 14After whom did the king of Israel go out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea? 15May Yahweh be the judge, and let him judge between me and you, and may he see and plead my case. May he vindicate me against you!”#Literally “May he judge me from your hand”
16When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17Then he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me the good, but I have repaid you the evil. 18You have explained to me today that you have dealt well with me, how#Hebrew “that” Yahweh delivered me into your hand but you did not kill me. 19For a man has found his enemy but sent him on his way safely. Now may Yahweh reward you with good in return for this day, for what you have done for me. 20So now then, look, I know that you will certainly be king and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So then, swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants#Literally “seed” after me and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.” 22So David swore this on oath to Saul, and Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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