24 1 David hid in a cave spareth Saul. 10 He showeth to Saul his innocency. 18 Saul acknowledgeth his fault. 22 He causeth David to swear unto him to be favorable to his.

And David went thence, and dwelt in [a]holds at En Gedi.

When Saul was turned from the Philistines, they told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of [b]En Gedi.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks among the wild goats.

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way where there was a cave, and Saul went in [c]to do his easement: and David and his men sat in the [d]inward parts of the cave.

And the men of David said unto him, See, the day is [e]come, whereof the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good to thee. Then David arose and cut off the lap of Saul’s garment privily.

And afterward David [f]was touched in his heart, because he had cut off the lap which was on Saul’s garment.

And he said unto his men, The Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my master the Lord’s anointed, to lay mine hand upon him: for he is the Anointed of the Lord.

So David overcame his servants with these words, and suffered them not to arise against Saul: for Saul rose up out of the cave and went away.

¶ David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, O my lord the King. And when Saul looked behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

10 And David said to Saul, [g]Wherefore givest thou an ear to men’s words, that say, Behold, David seeketh evil against thee?

11 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen, that the Lord had delivered thee this day into mine hand in the cave, and some bade me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and said, I will not lay mine hand on my master: for he is the Lord’s Anointed.

12 Moreover my father, behold: behold, I say, the lap of thy garment in mine hand: for when I cut off the lap of thy garment, I killed thee not. Understand and see, that there is neither evil nor wickedness in me, neither have I sinned against thee, yet thou huntest after my soul, to take it.

13 The Lord be judge between thee and me, and the Lord avenge me of thee, and let not mine hand be upon thee.

14 According as the [h]old proverb saith, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand be not upon thee.

15 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea?

16 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between thee and me, and see, and plead my cause, and [i]deliver me out of thine hand.

17 When David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, [j]Is this thy voice, my son David? and Saul lift up his voice, and wept,

18 And said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rendered me good, and I have rendered thee evil.

19 And thou hast showed this day, that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had closed me in thine hands, thou killedst me not.

20 For who shall find his enemy, and let him depart [k]free? wherefore the Lord render thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

21 For now behold, I [l]know that thou shalt be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be stablished in thine hand.

22 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, and that thou wilt not abolish my name out of my father’s house.

23 So David swore unto Saul, and Saul went home: but David and his men went up unto the hold.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 24:1 That is, in strong places, which were defensed by nature.
  2. 1 Samuel 24:2 A city of Judah, Josh. 15:62.
  3. 1 Samuel 24:4 Hebrew, to cover his feet.
  4. 1 Samuel 24:4 Hebrew, in the sides.
  5. 1 Samuel 24:5 Here we see how ready we are to hasten God’s promise, if the occasion serve never so little.
  6. 1 Samuel 24:6 For seeing it was his own private cause, he repented that he had touched his enemy.
  7. 1 Samuel 24:10 Contrary to the false report of them that said, David was Saul’s enemy, he proveth himself to be his friend.
  8. 1 Samuel 24:14 Or, the proverb of an ancient man.
  9. 1 Samuel 24:16 Hebrew, judge.
  10. 1 Samuel 24:17 Though he was a most cruel enemy to David, yet by his great gentleness his conscience compelled him to yield.
  11. 1 Samuel 24:20 Hebrew, a good way.
  12. 1 Samuel 24:21 Though this tyrant saw and confessed the favor of God toward David, yet he ceaseth not to persecute him against his own conscience.

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 [a]After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.(A) So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look(B) for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave(C) was there, and Saul went in to relieve(D) himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke(E) of when he said[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’”(F) Then David crept up unnoticed and cut(G) off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken(H) for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,(I) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.(J) He said to Saul, “Why do you listen(K) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming(L) you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared(M) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut(N) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty(O) of wrongdoing(P) or rebellion. I have not wronged(Q) you, but you are hunting(R) me down to take my life.(S) 12 May the Lord judge(T) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge(U) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,(V)’ so my hand will not touch you.

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?(W) A flea?(X) 15 May the Lord be our judge(Y) and decide(Z) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold(AA) it; may he vindicate(AB) me by delivering(AC) me from your hand.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,(AD) David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,”(AE) he said. “You have treated me well,(AF) but I have treated you badly.(AG) 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered(AH) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward(AI) you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king(AJ) and that the kingdom(AK) of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear(AL) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.(AM)

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 24:1 In Hebrew texts 24:1-22 is numbered 24:2-23.
  2. 1 Samuel 24:4 Or “Today the Lord is saying