1 Samuel 24: David spares Saul in the cave at En Gedi
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What happens?
Saul takes three thousand chosen men to look for David near En Gedi. He goes into a cave to relieve himself, where David and his men are sitting far inside. David's men say this is the day Yahweh spoke of, but David only cuts off a corner of Saul's robe secretly, and then his heart troubles him: he will not stretch out his hand against Yahweh's anointed. David comes out, bows to Saul, shows him the piece of the robe, and asks Yahweh to judge between them. Saul weeps, says David is more righteous than he is and will surely be king, and makes David swear not to cut off his offspring. Saul goes home, and David and his men go up to the stronghold.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. In verse 4 David's men tell David what they say Yahweh said to him; those are their words, and the text does not record Yahweh saying them earlier. Saul is told where David is in verse 1. David speaks to his men in verse 6, and to Saul in verses 8 to 15. Saul answers in verses 16 to 21. The words that name Yahweh, in verses 6, 10, 12, 15, 18, 19 and 21, are the speakers' own. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
In plain English: When Saul came back from chasing (literally: from after) the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
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2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
In plain English: Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to look for David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
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3He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.
In plain English: He came to the sheep pens by the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself (literally: to cover his feet). Now David and his men were sitting in the far back (this Bible: the innermost parts) of the cave.
The Hebrew words: "To relieve himself" is word for word "to cover his feet", the same Hebrew as in ; see the note there. The dictionary gives regel, "foot", as "a foot (as used in walking)", and says it is also used as a polite word for the private parts. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "to make preparation". The text says only that Saul went in, and that David came close enough to cut off a corner of his robe (verse 4).
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4David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
In plain English: David's men said to him, "Look, this is the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Look, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you may do to him whatever seems good to you.'" Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner (this Bible: the skirt) of Saul's robe.
Good to know: These are the words of David's men, so they are not in gold. The text gives no earlier verse where Yahweh says, "I will deliver your enemy into your hand", and it does not say where the men heard it. In Yahweh told David, "I will deliver the Philistines into your hand". In Abishai says something like it: "God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today."
The Hebrew word: "Skirt" is kanaph, which the dictionary gives as "an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap". It is the word for "the corner of your garment" in , and for "the skirt of his robe" in , where Saul took hold of Samuel's robe and it tore.
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5Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
In plain English: Afterward David's heart struck him (that is, it troubled him), because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe (this Bible: Saul's skirt).
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6He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
In plain English: He said to his men, "Yahweh forbid (literally: far be it from me, from Yahweh) that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, because he is Yahweh's anointed."
The Hebrew word: "Anointed" is mashiach, which the dictionary gives as "anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah". In 1 Samuel this Bible says "anointed" in all 11 verses that use it. Samuel anointed Saul in , and David in .
Church tradition: The dictionary gives "the Messiah" as one meaning of this word. In Andrew says, "We have found the Messiah!", and the text adds "which is, being interpreted, Christ". Here in 1 Samuel the word is used of Saul, the king Samuel anointed.
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7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
In plain English: So David held back (this Bible: checked) his men with these words, and did not let them rise against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
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8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
In plain English: Afterward David also got up, went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and paid him honor (this Bible: showed respect).
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9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
In plain English: David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to people's words when they say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you'?
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10Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’
In plain English: Look, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh gave you into my hand today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, because he is Yahweh's anointed.'
The Hebrew words: Word for word the middle of the verse reads "and one said to kill you, and it pitied you". "Spared" is from chus, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to cover, i.e. (figuratively) to compassionate". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "I would not slay thee, but spared thee".
What changes: Read the way this Bible has it, some urged David to kill Saul (compare his men's words in verse 4). Word for word it can also be read "one told me to kill you". "It pitied you" can be read "I spared you", or "my eye pitied you", as in , "Your eye shall not pity them", where the same word for "pity" is used with "eye". Either way, David says he spared Saul.
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11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
In plain English: Look, my father, yes, look at the corner (this Bible: skirt) of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or rebellion (this Bible: disobedience) in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting for my life to take it.
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12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
In plain English: May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you.
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13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
In plain English: As the old saying (this Bible: the proverb of the ancients) goes, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
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14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
In plain English: Whom has the king of Israel come out after? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?
Good to know: "Flea" is parosh, which the dictionary gives as "a flea". It is in only 2 verses, here and , where David again says "the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea". Mephibosheth calls himself "such a dead dog as I am" before David in .
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15May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
In plain English: So may Yahweh be the judge and decide between me and you. May he see, and take up my case (this Bible: plead my cause), and set me free from your hand (literally: judge me out of your hand)."
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16It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
In plain English: When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And Saul wept aloud (literally: lifted up his voice and wept).
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17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
In plain English: He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, because you have repaid me with good, while I have repaid you with evil.
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18You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
In plain English: Today you have shown (this Bible: declared) how you have dealt well with me: when Yahweh gave me into your hand, you did not kill me.
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19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
In plain English: For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go on his way unharmed (literally: on a good way)? So may Yahweh repay you with good for what you have done to me today.
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20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
In plain English: Now look, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
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21Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
In plain English: So now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not wipe out (this Bible: destroy) my name from my father's house."
Good to know: Jonathan had asked David something like it: "you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever" (). Now Saul asks it, and in verse 22 David swears it to him.
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22David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
In plain English: David swore this to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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