|
Chapter 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 of Engedi. |
| 2 | Then Saul
took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and
his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. |
|
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. |
| 4 | And the
men of David said unto him, 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
heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. |
| 6 | And he said
unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the
LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the
anointed of the LORD. |
| 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. |
|
8 | David also arose afterward, and went
out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul
looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed
himself. |
| 9
| And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's
words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? |
| 10 | Behold, this
day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine
hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I
said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's
anointed. |
| 11
| Moreover, my father, see, yea, 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 thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand,
and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
|
| 12 | The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but
mine hand shall not be upon thee. |
| 13 | As saith the proverb of the
ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be
upon thee. |
| 14
| After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom
dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. |
| 15 | The LORD
therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause,
and deliver 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, Is
this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
|
| 17 | And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast
rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. |
| 18 | And thou
hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when
the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. |
| 19 |
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD
reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. |
| 20 | And now,
behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of
Israel shall be established in thine hand. |
|
21 | Swear now therefore
unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou
wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. |
| 22 | And David
sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the
hold. |
