1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul’s Life

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

8Afterward, however, David got up 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. 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men 16who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking 17to harm you’? 1018Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and 19someone said to kill you, but 20I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11So, 21my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or 22rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you 23are lying in wait for my life, to take it. 1224May the Lord judge between 25you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘26Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? 27A dead dog, 28a single flea? 15May 29the Lord therefore be judge and decide between 30you and me; and may He see and 31plead my cause and save me from your hand.”

16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “32Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept. 1733And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for 34you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you. 18You have declared today that you have done good to me, that 35the Lord handed me over to you and yet you did not kill me. 19Though if a man 36finds his enemy, will he let him go away 37unharmed? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20Now, behold, 38I know that you will certainly be king, and that 39the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So now 40swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my 41descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.” 22And David swore an oath to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to 42the stronghold.