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1 Samuel 24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”(A) 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.(B) 3 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself.[a] Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.(C) 4 The men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” Then David went and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s cloak.(D) 5 Afterward David was stricken to the heart because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s cloak.(E) 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to raise my hand against him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”(F) 7 So David rebuked his men severely and did not permit them to attack Saul. Then Saul got up and left the cave and went on his way.

8 Afterward David also rose up and went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance.(G) 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘David seeks to do you harm’? 10 This very day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave, and some urged me to kill you, but I spared[b] you. I said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand, for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life.(H) 12 May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand shall not be against you.(I) 13 As the ancient proverb says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness,’ but my hand shall not be against you.(J) 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea?(K) 15 May the Lord, therefore, be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see to it and plead my cause and vindicate me against you.”(L)

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.(M) 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.(N) 18 Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.(O) 19 For who has ever found an enemy and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now I know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.(P) 21 Swear to me, therefore, by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.”(Q) 22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 24.3 Heb to cover his feet
  2. 24.10 Gk Syr Tg: Heb it (my eye) spared
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1 Samuel 24
International Standard Version

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 [a]When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told,[b] “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2 Saul took 3,000 of his best troops[c] from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.[d] Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses[e] of the cave.

4 David’s men told him, “Look, today is the day about which the Lord spoke to you when he said,[f] ‘I’ll give your enemy into your hand.’ Do to him whatever you want!”

David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterwards, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He told his men, “God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the Lord’s anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he’s the Lord’s anointed.” 7 David restrained his men with his[g] words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off.[h]

David Rebukes Saul

8 Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: “Your majesty!”[i] Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 Then David told Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘Look, David is trying to harm you?’ 10 Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes[j] that the Lord gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men[k] told me to kill you, but I had pity[l] on you and responded, ‘I won’t lift my hand against his majesty because he’s the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Look, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven’t wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won’t be attacking you. 13 Just like the ancient proverb says, ‘From wicked people comes wickedness,’ but I’m not against you. 14 After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you.”[m]

Saul’s Apparent Repentance

16 When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul cried loudly 17 to David, “You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I’ve treated you poorly. 18 You have explained how you treated me well, in that the Lord delivered me into your hand but you didn’t kill me. 19 For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely?[n] May the Lord repay you for what you have done for me today. 20 Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority.[o] 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won’t erase my name from my father’s family.” 22 David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 24:1 This v. is 24:2 in MT
  2. 1 Samuel 24:1 Lit. they told him
  3. 1 Samuel 24:2 Lit. choice men
  4. 1 Samuel 24:3 Lit. to cover his feet
  5. 1 Samuel 24:3 Or in the interior
  6. 1 Samuel 24:4 The Heb. lacks when he said
  7. 1 Samuel 24:7 The Heb. lacks his
  8. 1 Samuel 24:7 Lit. went on the way
  9. 1 Samuel 24:8 Lit. My lord, O king!
  10. 1 Samuel 24:10 Lit. your eyes saw
  11. 1 Samuel 24:10 Lit. and he
  12. 1 Samuel 24:10 So LXX
  13. 1 Samuel 24:15 Or he deliver me from your hand
  14. 1 Samuel 24:19 Lit. on a good road
  15. 1 Samuel 24:20 Lit. hand
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