1 Samuel 24:1-7

David Spares Saul's Life

1 Now it happened, a when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and b went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and c Saul went in to d attend to his needs. ( e David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) 4 f Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 Now it happened afterward that g David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe. 6 And he said to his men, h "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." 7 So David i restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 15:62
    Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi: six cities with their villages.
    2 Chronicles 20:2
    Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:19
    Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
    1 Samuel 23:28
    Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.
    1 Samuel 23:29
    Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:2
    Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.
    Psalms 38:12
    Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 24:10
    "Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'
  5. Cross References
    Judges 3:24
    When he had gone out, Eglon's servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, "He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 57:1
    Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
    Psalms 142:1
    I CRY out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:8 - 11
    Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:10
    And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:11
    "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.