Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Samuel 24
Saul Enters the Cave Where David Is Hiding
And it happened when Saul returned from following the Philistines that it was told to him, saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi.” Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave there. Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. The men of David said to him, “Look, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Look, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you will do to him as is good in your eyes.’” Then David arose and secretly cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.
David Refuses to Strike Saul
And it happened afterward that David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s edge. He said to his men, “Far be it from me by the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. Saul arose from the cave and went on the way.
David Calls after Saul
Afterward David also arose and went out from the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to human words, saying, ‘Look, David seeks your harm’? Look, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. Some said to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the edge of your robe in my hand. For in cutting off the edge of your robe and not killing you, know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me from you, but my hand will not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but my hand will not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea? May the LORD be judge and judge between me and you. May he see and plead my cause and judge me from your hand.”
Saul Acknowledges David’s Righteousness
And it happened when David finished speaking these words to Saul that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good while I have repaid you evil. You have declared today how you have done good with me, how the LORD delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he send him away on a good road? May the LORD repay you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, look, I know that you will surely become king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. And now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.” David swore to Saul. Then Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.