1 Samuel 24:12

12 May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but I won't lift a hand against you.

1 Samuel 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:12

The Lord judge between me and thee
And make it appear who is in the right, and who in the wrong: and the Lord avenge me of thee;
if he continued thus to persecute him: but mine hand shall not be upon thee;
to kill thee, though it may be in my power again to do it, as it has been; but this I am determined upon, let me suffer what I will, I will not lay hands on thee to do thee any hurt, but leave thee with God to requite all the evil done to me by thee.

1 Samuel 24:12 In-Context

10 Look! Today your own eyes have seen that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. But I refused to kill you. I spared you, saying, ‘I won't lift a hand against my master because he is the LORD's anointed.'

11 Look here, my protector! See the corner of your robe in my hand? I cut off the corner of your robe but didn't kill you. So know now that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I haven't wronged you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.

12 May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but I won't lift a hand against you.

13 As the old proverb goes, ‘Evil deeds come from evildoers!' but I won't lift a hand against you.

14 So who is Israel's king coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?