1 Samuel 24

1When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”Cross-references: 1Sam 23:19 · 1Sam 23:28 · Prov 25:5 · Prov 29:12 · Ezek 22:9 · Hos 7:3

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 13:2 · 1Sam 26:2 · Ps 37:32 · Ps 38:12 · Ps 104:18 · Ps 141:6

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.Cross-references: Judg 3:24 · Ps 57:1 · Ps 141:6 · Ps 142:1

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 23:7 · 1Sam 23:17 · 1Sam 24:10 · 1Sam 24:18 · 1Sam 25:28 · 1Sam 26:8 · +3 more

5Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.Cross-references: 2Sam 12:9 · 2Sam 24:10 · 2Ki 22:19 · 1John 3:20

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.”Cross-references: 1Sam 26:9 · 2Sam 1:14 · 1Ki 21:3 · Job 31:29 · Matt 5:44 · Rom 12:14 · +1 more

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 25:33 · Ps 7:4 · Matt 5:44 · Rom 12:17

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.Cross-references: Gen 17:3 · Ex 20:12 · 1Sam 20:41 · 1Sam 25:23 · 1Sam 26:17 · Rom 13:7 · +1 more

9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?Cross-references: Lev 19:16 · 1Sam 26:19 · Ps 101:5 · Ps 141:6 · Prov 16:28 · Prov 17:4 · +7 more

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.’Cross-references: 1Sam 24:4 · 1Sam 26:8 · Ps 105:15

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 18:27 · 1Sam 23:14 · 1Sam 23:23 · 1Sam 26:18 · 1Sam 26:20 · 2Ki 5:13 · +9 more

12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.Cross-references: Gen 16:5 · Gen 31:53 · Judg 11:27 · 1Sam 26:10 · 1Sam 26:23 · Job 5:8 · +7 more

13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.Cross-references: Matt 7:16 · Matt 7:20 · Matt 12:33 · Matt 15:19

14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?Cross-references: Judg 8:1 · 1Sam 17:43 · 1Sam 26:20 · 2Sam 3:8 · 2Sam 6:20 · 2Sam 9:8 · +2 more

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.”Cross-references: 1Sam 24:12 · 1Sam 26:4 · 2Chr 24:22 · Ps 35:1 · Ps 43:1 · Ps 119:154 · +2 more

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.Cross-references: Gen 33:4 · 1Sam 26:17 · Job 6:25 · Prov 15:1 · Prov 25:11 · Luke 21:15 · +1 more

17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.Cross-references: Gen 38:26 · Ex 9:27 · 1Sam 26:21 · Ps 37:6 · Matt 5:44 · Matt 27:4 · +1 more

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 23:7 · 1Sam 23:12 · 1Sam 24:10 · 1Sam 26:8 · 1Sam 26:23 · Ps 31:8

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.Cross-references: Judg 17:2 · 1Sam 23:21 · 1Sam 26:25 · Ps 18:20 · Prov 25:21

20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.Cross-references: 1Sam 13:14 · 1Sam 20:30 · 1Sam 23:17 · 2Sam 3:17 · Job 15:25 · Matt 2:3 · +2 more

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.”Cross-references: Gen 21:23 · Gen 31:48 · Gen 31:53 · 1Sam 20:14 · 2Sam 21:6 · Heb 6:16

22David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.Cross-references: 1Sam 23:29 · Prov 26:24 · Matt 10:16 · John 2:24