1 Samuel 24
David Spares Saul at
Engedi |
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
Enge'di.
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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.
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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. Ps. 57.1--0.1 · Ps. 142.1--0.1
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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.
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5 |
And it came to pass afterward, that
David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's
skirt.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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9 |
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest
thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
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10 |
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how
that the LORD hath delivered thee today 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.
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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.
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12 |
The LORD judge
between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of
thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
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13 |
As saith the proverb of the ancients,
Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be
upon thee.
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14 |
After whom is the king of Israel come
out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a
flea.
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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.
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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.
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17 |
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I
have rewarded thee evil.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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22 |
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went
home; but David and his men gat them up unto the
hold.
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