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Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Wilderness of En-gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all of Israel and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hands so you can do to him whatever seems good to you’.” Then David crept up and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to raise my hand against him; for he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 With these words David restrained his men, and he did not allow them to attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave, and went on his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down with his face to the ground in homage. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David seeks to harm you’? 10 Look, this very day your eyes can see that the Lord had delivered you into my hand in the cave. While some urged me to kill you, I spared you. I said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed’. 11 Look, my father! You can see the corner of your robe in my hand! For I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you. So now you can see and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I have not sinned against you, yet you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done against me, but my hand will never be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked’; but my hand will not be against you.
14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore be judge, and decide between me and you. May He see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand.”
16 When David had finished speaking this to Saul, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, while I have repaid you with evil. 18 You have told me today how you have dealt well with me; for the Lord delivered me into your hands, yet you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? So may the Lord reward you richly with good for the way you have treated me today. 20 Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went back to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.