David Spares Saul in the Cave

Saul was told that David was in the wilderness of En Gedi. So he chose three thousand men from Israel and went to look for David and his men among the rocky places. On the way, Saul entered a cave, not knowing David and his men were deeper inside it.

David’s men thought this was the moment to act. But David only crept forward and secretly cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. Afterwards David felt troubled even for doing that. He told his men he would not raise his hand against Saul, because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. So David restrained his men, and Saul left the cave.

After Saul had gone out, David came out of the cave and called to him as his lord the king. Then David bowed down with his face to the ground. He asked why Saul listened to people who said David wanted to harm him. David said Saul had now seen for himself that David had spared him when he had the chance to kill him.

David held up the piece of robe as proof. He said there was no evil or rebellion in his hand, even though Saul was hunting him. David said the Lord could judge between them and rescue him, but David himself would not take revenge. He described himself as no more than a dead dog or a flea before the king of Israel.

Saul recognised David’s voice and wept. He said David had been more righteous than he had, returning good for evil. Saul said people do not usually let an enemy go free like that, and he said he knew David would surely become king. Then Saul asked David to swear that he would not cut off Saul’s offspring or destroy his name from his father’s house. David swore it. Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.