1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul’s Life

1Now 1when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, 2he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then 3Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul 4went in to 5relieve himself. Now 6David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4The men of David said to him, “Behold, 7this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; 8I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good 9to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5It came about afterward that 10David’s 11conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6So he said to his men, “12Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7David 13persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, 14left the cave, and went on his way.

8Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, 15David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks 16to harm you’? 1017Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and 18some said 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 the Lord’s anointed.’ 11Now, 19my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or 20rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you 21are lying in wait for my life to take it. 1222May the Lord judge between 23you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘24Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? 25A dead dog, 26a single flea? 1527The Lord therefore be judge and decide between 28you and me; and may He see and 29plead my cause and 30deliver me from your hand.”

16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “31Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 1732He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for 33you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18You have declared today that you have done good to me, that 34the Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19For if a man 35finds his enemy, will he let him go away 36safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20Now, behold, 37I know that you will surely be king, and that 38the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So now 39swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my 40descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.” 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to 41the stronghold.