1 Samuel 24 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Chapter 24

David Spares Saul.[a] 1 David then went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi. 2 When Saul returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, he was told that David was in the desert near Engedi. 3 So Saul took three thousand of the best men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. 4 When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.(A)

5 David’s servants said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you: I will deliver your enemy into your hand; do with him as you see fit.” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe. 6 Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s robe.(B) 7 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”(C) 8 With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. 9 David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed, his face to the ground in homage, 10 and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? 11 You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 12 Look here, my father. See the end of your robe which I hold. I cut off an end of your robe and did not kill you. Now see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life.(D) 13 May the Lord judge between me and you. May the Lord exact justice from you in my case. I shall not lay a hand on you. 14 As the old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness.’ Thus I will not lay a hand on you. 15 What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!(E) 16 The Lord will be the judge to decide between us. May the Lord see this, defend my cause, and give me justice against you!”(F)

Saul’s Remorse. 17 When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And he wept freely. 18 Saul then admitted to David: “You are more in the right than I am. You have treated me graciously, while I have treated you badly. 19 You have declared this day how you treated me graciously: the Lord delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. 20 For if someone comes upon an enemy, do they send them graciously on their way? So may the Lord reward you graciously for what you have done this day. 21 And now, since I know that you will certainly become king and that the kingship over Israel shall come into your possession,(G) 22 swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants and that you will not blot out my name from my father’s house.”(H) 23 David gave Saul his oath and Saul returned home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Footnotes

  1. 24:1 The first of two accounts (see chap. 26) in which David spares Saul’s life. The two accounts, which do not make reference to each other, are probably alternative versions of the same story.

Cross references

  1. 24:4 : Ps 57.
  2. 24:6 : 1 Sm 15:27.
  3. 24:7 : 1 Sm 10:1; 26:9; 31:4; 2 Sm 1:14.
  4. 24:12 : Rom 12:19.
  5. 24:15 : 2 Sm 9:8; 16:9.
  6. 24:16 : 1 Sm 18:19, 31; 26:19; Ps 35:1–3; 43:1.
  7. 24:21 : 1 Sm 26:25.
  8. 24:22 : 2 Sm 9:1–3.

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24 And it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, `Lo, David [is] in the wilderness of En-gedi.' 2 And Saul taketh three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goeth to seek David and his men, on the front of the rocks of the wild g...
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24 And when Saul turned again, after that he pursued [the] Philistines, they told to him, and said, Lo! David is in the desert of Engedi (Lo! David is in the wilderness of Engedi). 2 Therefore Saul took three thousand chosen men of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men, yea upon the most br...
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1 Samuel 24 - World English Bible (WEB)

24 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.” 2 Then 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. 3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where the...
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David Spares Saul at En-gedi24 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2 So Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the mountain goats. 3 When he came ac...
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David Spares Saul’s Life24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge′di.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheep...
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David Spares Saul’s Life24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge′di.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheep...
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1 Samuel 24 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David Spares Saul’s Life24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, ‘David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.’ 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the...
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David Spares Saul’s Life24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”(A)2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.(B)3 He came to th...
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David Spares Saul’s Life24 [a]After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. 3 At the place where the road...
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