David Spares the Father's Anointed
Saul steps into the very cave where David is hiding. David's men call it a gift; he cuts off a corner of the robe instead, and even that stings his conscience. Outside he calls Saul his father and lets our Father judge between them.
24 1After Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the En Gedi wilderness." 2Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel to search for David and his men in front of the Wild Goats' Rocks. 3He reached the sheep pens by the road, where a cave was. Saul went in to relieve himself; David and his men sat deep in the cave. 4David's men said, "This is the day our Father meant when he told you, 'I am giving your enemy into your hand to do to him as you wish.'" David got up and quietly cut a corner off Saul's robe. 5Afterward David's conscience struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. 6He told his men, "May our Father forbid I do this to my lord, his anointed—raise my hand against him, for he is our Father's anointed." 7With these words David restrained his men from attacking Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8David rose, left the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" Saul looked back, and David bowed his face to the ground.
9David said to Saul, "Why listen to the men who say, 'Look, David is seeking to harm you'? 10Today your eyes saw how our Father gave you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you and said, 'I won't raise my hand against my lord—our Father's anointed.' 11See, my father—your robe's corner in my hand! I cut it but didn't kill you. Know and see there's no evil or rebellion in my hand. I haven't sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it. 12May our Father judge between you and me, and our Father avenge me on you—but my hand won't touch you. 13As the old proverb says, 'From the wicked comes wickedness.' My hand won't be against you. 14Who has Israel's king come out against? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea? 15May our Father judge between you and me, see it, plead my case, and rescue me from your hand."
16When David finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" and wept aloud. 17He told David, "You are more just than I; you did me good, I did you harm. 18Today you showed the good you did me: our Father put me in your hand, yet you did not kill me. 19If a man finds his enemy, would he let him go unharmed? May our Father repay you well for what you did for me today. 20Now I know you will surely be king, and Israel's kingdom will stand firm in your hand. 21So swear to me by our Father: you won't cut off my descendants after me or wipe out my name from my father's house."
22David swore to Saul. Saul went home; David and his men went up to the stronghold.
