8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. hAnd some told me to kill you, but I spared you.3 I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, ffor he is the Lord's anointed.’ 11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that ithere is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though jyou hunt my life to take it. 12kMay the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? lAfter a dead dog! mAfter a flea! 15kMay the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and nplead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”
Footnotes
- 3 24:10 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew it [my eye] spared you
Leaving Matters with God
1 Samuel 24:1–22 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 39:11 • ID: 3437The Partial Kingdom: God’s King
Judges 1:1 – 2 Chronicles 36:23 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 44:21 • ID: 2389A Study in 1 and 2 Samuel, Volume 4
Whose Reign Is This? 1 Samuel 21:1–31:13 Series • ID: 109014Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.