1 Samuel 24:1-7

David Spares Saul's Life

¹ _{1 y} When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." ² Then Saul took _z 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 sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in _a to relieve himself. ₂ Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts _b of the cave. ⁴ And the men of David said to him, _c "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ⁵ And afterward _d David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ⁶ He said to his men, _e "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is _f the Lord's anointed." ⁷ So David persuaded his men with these words _g and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

1. Cross References
   1 Samuel 23:28
   So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Samuel 26:2
   So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
   
3. Cross References
   Judges 3:24
   When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.
   
4. Cross References
   Psalms 57:1
   Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
   Psalms 142:1
   With my voice I cry out to the Lord ; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
   
5. Cross References
   1 Samuel 24:7
   So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
   1 Samuel 26:8
   Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.
   
6. Cross References
   2 Samuel 24:10
   But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
   
7. Cross References
   1 Samuel 26:11
   The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord 's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.
   
8. Cross References
   1 Samuel 12:3
   Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.
   
9. Cross References
   Psalms 7:4
   If I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause.