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1 Samuel 24

David refuses to kill the king who hunts him, entrusting judgment to YHWH while presenting evidence of his innocence.

Saul enters a cave at En Gedi to relieve himself while David and his men hide farther inside. David’s men urge him to take this chance to kill Saul, but David cuts off a piece of the king’s robe and then feels stricken for doing so. He restrains his men and confronts Saul from outside the cave, presenting the cloth as evidence of his innocence. Saul weeps, acknowledges David’s righteousness and future kingship, and asks him to spare his descendants.

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1When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
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.
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.
4David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which the LORD 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.
5Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
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.
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.
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
10Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD 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 the LORD’s anointed.’
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.
12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
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.
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
22David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
1 Samuel 24:10David recognizes that YHWH gave him access to Saul, yet refuses to treat that opportunity as permission to kill.
1 Samuel 24:11The piece of Saul’s robe becomes visible proof that David spared the life of the man pursuing him.
1 Samuel 24:17Saul acknowledges the moral contrast at the heart of their conflict: David has answered his evil with good.
Where this chapter reaches

David’s appeal for YHWH to judge his cause shares Psalm’s prayers for vindication, while his refusal to avenge himself shares Proverbs’ teaching against personal revenge. His kindness toward a pursuing enemy also shares Matthew’s teaching about loving enemies and doing good to those who oppose you.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What stands out about David’s response to his men’s claim that this opportunity came from God?

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What do Saul’s tears and David’s return to the stronghold leave unresolved at the chapter’s end?

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Questions people ask about 1 Samuel 24

Why did David spare Saul in 1 Samuel 24?

David identifies Saul as “the LORD’s anointed” and refuses to raise his hand against him. He also prevents his men from attacking. Although David says YHWH delivered Saul into his hand, he leaves judgment and vengeance with YHWH rather than killing Saul himself.

Why did David feel guilty for cutting Saul’s robe?

The text says David’s heart struck him after he cut Saul’s robe. His next words connect that distress with Saul’s status as YHWH’s anointed. The chapter does not explain any further symbolism of the torn robe, but it shows how seriously David regarded acting against the king.

Did Saul repent in 1 Samuel 24?

Saul weeps, admits that he has done evil, and acknowledges that David has treated him well. He also recognizes David’s future kingship. These are clear admissions, but this chapter alone does not establish lasting repentance. Its closing scene leaves them apart: Saul goes home, while David returns to the stronghold.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).