I Samuel 24

1David went from there and stayed in the wildernesses of En-gedi.

2When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi.

3So Saul took three thousand of the best troops from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the rocks of the wild goats;

4and he came to the sheepfolds along the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the back of the cave.

5David’s men said to him, “This is the day of which GOD said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hands; you can do with him as you please.’” David went and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak.

6But afterward David reproached himself for cutting off the corner of Saul’s cloak.

7He said to his men, “GOD forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord—GOD’s anointed—that I should raise my hand against him; for he is GOD’s anointed.”

8David rebuked his men and did not permit them to attack Saul.Saul left the cave and started on his way.

9Then David also went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord king!” Saul looked around and David bowed low in homage, with his face to the ground.

10And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say, ‘David is out to do you harm?’

11You can see for yourself now that GOD delivered you into my hands in the cave today. And though I was urged to kill you, I showed you pity; (cf., e.g., Deut. 7.16). for I said, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, since he is GOD’s anointed.’

12Please, sir, take a close look at the corner of your cloak in my hand; for when I cut off the corner of your cloak, I did not kill you. You must see plainly that I have done nothing evil or rebellious, and I have never wronged you. Yet you are bent on taking my life.

13May GOD judge between you and me! And may GOD take vengeance upon you for me; but my hand will never touch you.

14As the ancient proverb has it: ‘Wickedness comes from the wicked!’ My hand will never touch you.

15Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?

16May GOD be arbiter and judge between you and me! May [God] take note and uphold my cause, and vindicate me against you.”

17When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul broke down and wept.

18He said to David, “You are right, not I; for you have treated me generously, but I have treated you badly.

19Yes, you have just revealed how generously you treated me, for GOD delivered me into your hands and you did not kill me.

20If a man meets his enemy, does he let him go his way unharmed? Surely, GOD will reward you generously for what you have done for me this day.

21I know now that you will become king, and that the kingship over Israel will remain in your hands.

22So swear to me by GOD that you will not destroy my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”

23David swore to Saul, Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the strongholds.