24 SHEMU'EL -1- SAMUEL 24

David Spares Saul's Life

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:1

  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 of Engedi.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:2

  2    Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Yisrael, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:3

  3    And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:4

  4    And the men of David said to him, Behold the day of which YAHWEH said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it shall seem right and kindly to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:5

  5    And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:6

  6    And he said to his men, YAHWEH forbid that I should do this thing to my master, YAHWEH's messiyah, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the messiyah of YAHWEH.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:7

  7    So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

David Shows His Innocence

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:8

  8    David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My master the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:9

  9     ^¶  And David said to Saul, Wherefore hear you adam's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:10

  10    Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that YAHWEH had delivered you to day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you: but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my master; for he is YAHWEH's messiyah.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:11

  11    Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:12

  12    YAHWEH judge between me and you, and YAHWEH avenge me of you: but my hand shall not be upon you.

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  13    As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon you.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:14

  14    After whom is the king of Yisrael come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:15

  15    YAHWEH therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:16

  16     ^¶  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:17

  17    And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:18

  18    And you have shown this day how that you have dealt well with me: forasmuch as when YAHWEH had delivered me into your hand, you killed me not.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:19

  19    For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore YAHWEH reward shalom for your good for that you have done to me this day.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:20

  20    And now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Yisrael shall be established in your hand.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:21

  21    Swear now therefore to me by YAHWEH, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.

1 SHEMU'EL - 1 SAMUEL 24:22

  22    And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men got them up to the hold.