Old Testament · 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 24

1And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.

David Spares Saul

2And it came to pass, when Saul returned from after the Philistines, that they told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." 3And Saul took three thousand chosen men^a out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the face of the rocks of the wild goats.

4And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 5And the men of David said to him, "Behold the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it is good in your eyes.'" And David arose and cut off the corner of the robe that belonged to Saul, secretly.

6And it came to pass afterward, that the heart of David smote him, because he had cut off the corner that belonged to Saul. 7And he said to his men, "Far be it from me, from the LORD, that I should do this thing to my lord, to the anointed of the LORD, to put forth my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."

8And David restrained his men with words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose from the cave and went on the way.

9And David arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed his face to the ground, and prostrated himself. 10And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of man^b, saying, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? 11Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave; and one said to kill you, but it had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of the LORD.'

12And, my father, see, yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul^c to take it.

13May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be against you. 14As the proverb of the ancient one says, 'From the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.

15After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after one flea. 16And may the LORD be judge, and judge between me and you, and may He see and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand."

David’s Oath to Saul

17And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 18And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered me good, and I have rendered you evil. 19And you have declared today how you have dealt good with me, in that the LORD delivered me up into your hand, and you did not kill me. 20For if a man finds his enemy, will he send him away on a good way? So may the LORD reward you good for what you have done to me this day.

21And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 22And now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name from the house of my father."

23And David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.