1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24:1  When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Notice, David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”

1 Samuel 24:2  So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

1 Samuel 24:3  When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,

1 Samuel 24:4  so they said to him, “Notice, this is the day Yahveh told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.'” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

1 Samuel 24:5  Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

1 Samuel 24:6  He said to his men, “I swear before Yahveh: I would never do such a thing to my lord, Yahveh’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is Yahveh’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 24:7  With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

1 Samuel 24:8  After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.

1 Samuel 24:9  David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, Notice, David intends to harm you’?

1 Samuel 24:10  Notice with your own eyes that Yahveh handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is Yahveh’s anointed.

1 Samuel 24:11  Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down seeking my throat.

1 Samuel 24:12  “May Yahveh judge between me and you, and may Yahveh take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.

1 Samuel 24:13  As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’ My hand will never be against you.

1 Samuel 24:14  Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?

1 Samuel 24:15  May Yahveh be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you.”

1 Samuel 24:16  When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

1 Samuel 24:17  and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.

1 Samuel 24:18  You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when Yahveh handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.

1 Samuel 24:19  When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May Yahveh repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.

1 Samuel 24:20  “Now notice I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

1 Samuel 24:21  Therefore swear to me by Yahveh that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

1 Samuel 24:22  So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.

links:

a cave conversation
escapes
lessons from our escapes

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library