1 Samuel 24:1-7

David Spares Saul’s Life

1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said[a] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”
7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

Cross References 9

  • 1. S Joshua 15:62; 1 Samuel 23:28-29
  • 2. 1 Samuel 26:2
  • 3. Psalms 57 Title; Psalms 142 Title
  • 4. Judges 3:24
  • 5. 1 Samuel 25:28-30
  • 6. 2 Samuel 4:8; 1 Samuel 23:17; 1 Samuel 26:8
  • 7. ver 10,11
  • 8. 1 Samuel 26:9; 2 Samuel 24:10
  • 9. S Genesis 26:11; S 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 26:11

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "“Today the " Lord"is saying"
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