1 Samuel 24
Chapter 24
David Spares Saul’s Life
1 tAfter Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.
3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.6 “The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”
7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,
8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one.’
11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12 “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?
15 May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”
16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.
21 Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
1 SAMUEL 24
David Lets Saul Live
1 When Saul got back from fighting off the Philistines, he heard that David was in the desert around En-Gedi. 2 Saul led 3,000 of Israel's best soldiers out to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks at En-Gedi.
3 t There were some sheep pens along the side of the road, and one of them was built around the entrance to a cave. Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.
David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave.
4 They whispered to David, “The [Lord] told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day the [Lord] was talking about.”
David sneaked over and cut off a small piecet of Saul's robe, but Saul didn't notice a thing. 5 Afterwards, David was sorry that he had even done that,
6-7 t and he told his men, “Stop talking foolishly. We're not going to attack Saul. He's my king, and I pray that the [Lord] will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king.”
Saul left the cave and started down the road.
8 Soon, David also got up and left the cave. “Your Majesty!” he shouted from a distance.
Saul turned around to look. David bowed down very low
9 and said:
Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I'm trying to harm you? 10 You can see for yourself that the [Lord] gave me the chance to catch you in the cave today. Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn't let them do it. I told them, “I will not harm the [Lord]'s chosen king!”
11 Your Majesty, look at what I'm holding. You can see that it's a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I'm not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven't done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.
12 I'll let the [Lord] decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the [Lord] will punish you for what you're doing to me, but I won't do anything to you.
13 An old proverb says, “Only evil people do evil things,” and so I won't harm you.
14 t Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.
15 I pray that the [Lord] will help me escape and show that I am in the right.
16 “David, my son—is that you?” Saul asked. Then he started crying
17 and said:
David, you're a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness, even though I've been cruel to you. 18 You've told me how you were kind enough not to kill me when the [Lord] gave you the chance.
19 If you really were my enemy, you wouldn't have let me leave here alive. I pray that the [Lord] will give you a big reward for what you did today.
20 I realize now that you will be the next king, and a powerful king at that.
21 Promise me with the [Lord] as your witness, that you won't wipe out my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive.
22 So David promised, and Saul went home. David and his men returned to their hideout.
