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David Spares Saul
And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
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.
And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
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!
And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.
“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.
And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.
And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”
And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,
And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?
And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?
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.’
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
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.
And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.
“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.
Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
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?
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
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!”
Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice [in delivering me] out of thy hand.
When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.
David's Oath to Saul
And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
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.
And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
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.
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day.
And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.
And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.