David Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 24

1 Now it happened, a when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and b went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and c Saul went in to d attend to his needs. ( e David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) 4 f Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 Now it happened afterward that g David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe. 6 And he said to his men, h "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." 7 So David i restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul: j "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Indeed David seeks your harm'? 10 "Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.' 11 "Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is k neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you l hunt my life to take it. 12 m "Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, n 'Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.' But my hand shall not be against you. 14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? o A dead dog? p A flea? 15 q "Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and r see and s plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand."

16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, t "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 u Then he said to David: "You are v more righteous than I; for w you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 "And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when x the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 "For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 "And now y I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 z "Therefore swear now to me by the LORD a that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father's house." 22 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to b the stronghold.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 15:62
    Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six cities with their villages.
    2 Chronicles 20:2
    Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:19
    Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
    1 Samuel 23:28
    Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.
    1 Samuel 23:29
    Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:2
    Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.
    Psalms 38:12
    Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:10
    "Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'
  5. Cross References
    Judges 3:24
    When he had gone out, Eglon's servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, "He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 57:1
    Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
    Psalms 142:1
    I CRY out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:8 - 11
    Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:10
    And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:11
    "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go."
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 7:4
    If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause.
    Matthew 5:44
    But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
    Romans 12:17
    Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
    Romans 12:19
    Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 141:6
    Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
    Proverbs 16:28
    A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
    Proverbs 17:9
    He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
  12. Cross References
    Judges 11:27
    'Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.'"
    Psalms 7:3
    O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands.
    Psalms 35:7
    For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life.
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:20
    "So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 16:5
    Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.
    Judges 11:27
    'Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.'"
    1 Samuel 26:10 - 23
    David said furthermore, " As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.
    Job 5:8
    But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause -
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 7:16 - 20
    You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:43
    So the Philistine said to David, " Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
    2 Samuel 9:8
    Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:20
    "So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:12
    Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.
  19. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 24:22
    Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, "The LORD look on it, and repay!
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 35:1
    Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.
    Psalms 43:1
    Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
    Psalms 119:154
    Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.
    Micah 7:9
    I will bear the indignation of the LORD, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:17
    Then Saul knew David's voice, and said, " Is that your voice, my son David?" David said, " It is my voice, my lord, O king.
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:21
    Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 38:26
    So Judah acknowledged them and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again.
  24. Cross References
    Matthew 5:44
    But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
  25. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:23
    May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed.
  26. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:17
    And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 21:23
    "Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt."
    1 Samuel 20:14 - 17
    And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die.
  28. Cross References
    2 Samuel 21:6 - 8
    "let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose." And the king said, "I will give them."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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