1 Samuel 24 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

David Spares Saul’s Life

[fn]Now when^H834 Saul^H7586 returned^H7725 from pursuing^H310 the Philistines^H6430, it was reported^H5046 to him, saying^H559, “Behold^H2009, David^H1732 is in the wilderness^H4057 of Engedi^H5872.”

1Sa 24:2

1Sa 24:2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.

1Sa 24:3

1Sa 24:3And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to [fn]relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

1Sa 24:4

1Sa 24:4Then David’s men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to hand your enemy over to you, and you shall do to him as it seems good [fn]to you.’” Then David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.

1Sa 24:5

1Sa 24:5But it came about afterward that David’s [fn]conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.

1Sa 24:6

1Sa 24:6So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I would do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed.”

1Sa 24:7

1Sa 24:7And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, [fn]left the cave, and went on his way.

1Sa 24:8

Afterward^H310^H3651, however, David^H1732 got^H6965 up^H6965 and went^H3318 out^H3318 of the cave^H4631, and called^H7121 after^H310 Saul^H7586, saying^H559, “My lord^H113 the king^H4428!” And when Saul^H7586 looked^H5027 behind^H310 him, David^H1732 bowed^H6915 with his face^H639 to the ground^H776 and prostrated^H2331 himself.

1Sa 24:9

1Sa 24:9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men [fn]who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking [fn]to harm you’?

1Sa 24:10

1Sa 24:10“Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but [fn]I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the LORD’S anointed.’

1Sa 24:11

1Sa 24:11“So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or [fn]rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.

1Sa 24:12

1Sa 24:12“May the LORD judge between [fn]you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.

1Sa 24:13

1Sa 24:13“As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

1Sa 24:14

1Sa 24:14“After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?

1Sa 24:15

1Sa 24:15“May the LORD therefore be judge and decide between [fn]you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.”

1Sa 24:16

When David^H1732 had finished^H3615 speaking^H1696 these^H428 words^H1697 to Saul^H7586, Saul^H7586 said^H559, “Is this^H2088 your voice^H6963, my son^H1121 David^H1732?” Then Saul^H7586 raised^H5375 his voice^H6963 and wept^H1058.

1Sa 24:17

1Sa 24:17And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.

1Sa 24:18

1Sa 24:18“You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD handed me over to you and yet you did not kill me.

1Sa 24:19

1Sa 24:19“Though if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away [fn]unharmed? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.

1Sa 24:20

1Sa 24:20“Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

1Sa 24:21

1Sa 24:21“So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my [fn]descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.”

1Sa 24:22

1Sa 24:22And David swore an oath to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

See the NASB20 Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NASB20 Footnotes

Ch 24:2 in Heb

Lit cover his feet

Lit in your eyes

Lit heart struck

Lit from

Lit saying

Lit your harm

As in ancient versions; MT, my eye had pity on

Lit offense

Lit me and you

Lit me and you

Lit on a good road

Lit seed

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For more information on this translation, see the NASB20 Preface.