David Cuts Off the Hem of Saul’s Robe |
1 Samuel 24:1-22 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
It [happened,] when [king] Saul returned from following the Philistines, that [he was] told, [Look,] David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi. Saul took 3,000 [of the best] men out of all Israel & went to [search for] David & his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
And [Saul] came to the [sheep pens] by the [road,] where a cave was & Saul went in to cover his feet [& sleep.] And David & his men remained in the [back] sides of the cave. |
And [David’s] men said to him, [Remember when] the Lord said to you, [Watch,] I will deliver your enemy into your hand, [so] you [can] do to him as [seems] good to you. Then, David [rose] & cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe [secretly.] |
It [happened,] afterward, [David’s] heart was [troubled, because of it.] And [David] said to his men, The Lord [forbids] me to do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch [out] my hand against him, [for he’s] the anointed of the Lord. |
So, David [stopped] his servants with these words & [warned] them not to rise against Saul. [Later,] Saul rose up out of the cave & went on his way. Afterward, David also arose & went out of the cave & cried after Saul, saying, My lord, the king. |
And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed himself [facing] the [ground.] David said to Saul, [Have you] heard men [say, See,] David [seeks] to hurt you? [Look] this day, your [own] eyes have seen how the Lord has delivered you into [my] hand in the cave & some [begged] me [to] kill you, but [I] spared you. |
I said, I will not put [my] hand against my lord, [Saul,] for he is the Lord’s anointed. [Additionally,] my father, see the [corner of] your robe in my hand, for [when] I cut [it] off, [I didn’t] kill you. |
[Now,] you know & see there is neither evil nor [sin] in my hand & I haven’t sinned against you & [still] you hunt my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me & you & [may] the Lord avenge me of you, but [my] hand [won’t] be upon you. |
As the [ancient] proverb [says;] Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but [my] hand shall not be upon you. After whom [has] the king of Israel come out? After whom [do] you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea. |
The Lord [will] therefore judge between me & you, see & plead my [case] & deliver me out of your hand. It [happened,] when David [finished] speaking to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son, David? And Saul lifted up his voice & wept. |
And [Saul] said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, [but] I have rewarded you evil. And you have [shown me] this day, how you have dealt [kindly] with me, [since] the Lord has delivered me into your hand & you [didn’t] kill me. |
If a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away [safely]? [For this reason,] the Lord [shall] reward you good for [what] you have done to me this day. And now, I know [for certain] that you shall surely be king & the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. |
Now, swear to me by the Lord, that you won’t cut off my [descendants] after me & won’t destroy my name out of my father’s house. David [swore] to Saul & Saul went home, but David & his men [went] up to the [safe place of refuge.] |