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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1 Samuel 24
24
David Spares Saul's Life
1When Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness near Engedi. 2Saul took three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel and went looking for David and his men east of Wild Goat Rocks. 3#Ps 57 Title; Ps 142 Title He came to a cave close to some sheep pens by the road and went in to relieve himself. It happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding far back in the cave. 4They said to him, “This is your chance! The Lord has told you that he would put your enemy in your power and you could do to him whatever you wanted to.” David crept over and cut off a piece of Saul's robe without Saul's knowing it. 5But then David's conscience began to hurt, 6#1 S 26.11 and he said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the Lord chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the Lord!” 7So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul.
Saul got up, left the cave, and started away. 8Then David went out after him and called to him, “Your Majesty!” Saul turned around, and David bowed down to the ground in respect 9and said, “Why do you listen to people who say that I am trying to harm you? 10You can see for yourself that just now in the cave the Lord put you in my power. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I felt sorry for you and said that I would not harm you in the least, because you are the one whom the Lord chose to be king. 11Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. This should convince you that I have no thought of rebelling against you or of harming you. You are hunting me down to kill me, even though I have not done you any wrong. 12May the Lord judge which one of us is wrong! May he punish you for your action against me, for I will not harm you in the least. 13You know the old saying, ‘Evil is done only by evil people.’ And so I will not harm you. 14#1 S 26.20 Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea! 15The Lord will judge, and he will decide which one of us is wrong. May he look into the matter, defend me, and save me from you.”
16When David had finished speaking, Saul said, “Is that really you, David my son?” And he started crying. 17Then he said to David, “You are right, and I am wrong. You have been so good to me, while I have done such wrong to you! 18Today you have shown how good you are to me, because you did not kill me, even though the Lord put me in your power. 19How often does someone catch an enemy and then let him get away unharmed? The Lord bless you for what you have done to me today! 20Now I am sure that you will be king of Israel and that the kingdom will continue under your rule. 21But promise me in the Lord's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten.” 22David promised that he would.
Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went back to their hiding place.
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