1 Samuel 24

¹ And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David [is] in the wilderness ofA city of Judah, (Jos_15:62).Engedi.

² {cf2 (24:3)} Then Saul tooke three thousande chosen men out of all Israel, & went to seeke Dauid and his men vpon the rocks among the wilde goates.

³ {cf2 (24:4)} And hee came to the sheepecoates by the way where there was a caue, & Saul went in to do his easement: and Dauid and his men sate in the inward parts of the caue.

⁴ And the men of David said unto him,Here we see how ready we are to hasten God's promise, if the occasion serve never so little.Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

⁵ And it came to pass afterward, that David's heartFor seeing it was his own private cause, he repented that he had touched his enemy.smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

⁶ {cf2 (24:7)} And he said vnto his men, The Lord keepe mee from doing that thing vnto my master the Lords Anoynted, to lay mine hand vpon him: for he is the Anoynted of the Lord.

⁷ {cf2 (24:8)} So Dauid ouercame his seruants with these words, & suffered them not to arise against Saul: so Saul rose vp out of the caue and went away.

⁸ {cf2 (24:9)} Dauid also arose afterward, and went out of the caue, and cryed after Saul, saying, O my lorde the King; when Saul looked behinde him, Dauid inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himselfe.

⁹ And David said to Saul,Contrary to the report of those who said David was Saul's enemy, he proves himself to be his friend.Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

¹⁰ {cf2 (24:11)} Behold, this day thine eyes haue seene, that the Lorde had deliuered thee this day into mine hand in the caue, and some bade me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and said, I will not lay mine hande on my master: for he is the Lordes Anoynted.

¹¹ {cf2 (24:12)} Moreouer my father, behold: behold, I say, the lappe of thy garment in mine hand: for when I cut off the lappe of thy garment, I killed thee not. Vnderstad & see, that there is neither euil nor wickednesse in mee, neither haue I sinned against thee, yet thou huntest after my soule to take it.

¹² {cf2 (24:13)} The Lord be iudge betweene thee and me, and the Lord auenge me of thee, & let not mine hand be vpon thee.

¹³ {cf2 (24:14)} According as the olde prouerbe sayeth, Wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand be not vpon thee.

¹⁴ {cf2 (24:15)} After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whome doest thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea?

¹⁵ {cf2 (24:16)} The Lord therfore be iudge, and iudge betweene thee and me, and see, & pleade my cause, and deliuer me out of thine hand.

¹⁶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said,Though he was a cruel enemy to David, yet by his great gentleness his conscience compelled him to yield.[Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

¹⁷ {cf2 (24:18)} And sayd to Dauid, Thou art more righteous then I: for thou hast rendred me good, and I haue rendred thee euill.

¹⁸ {cf2 (24:19)} And thou hast shewed this day, that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had closed me in thine hands, thou killedst me not.

¹⁹ {cf2 (24:20)} For who shal finde his enemie, and let him depart free? wherefore the Lorde render thee good for that thou hast done vnto me this day.

²⁰ And now, behold, IThough this tyrant saw and confessed the favour of God toward David, yet he did not cease to persecute him against his own conscience.know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

²¹ {cf2 (24:22)} Sweare now therfore vnto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seede after me, and that thou wilt not abolish my name out of my fathers house.

²² {cf2 (24:23)} So Dauid sware vnto Saul, and Saul went home: but Dauid & his men went vp vnto ye hold.