24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon,b in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.c 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

26 Sauld was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.b 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholdse of En Gedi.c f

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 a After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.g” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to lookh for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cavei was there, and Saul went in to relievej himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spokek of when he saidb to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ”l Then David crept up unnoticed and cutm off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-strickenn for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,o or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.p 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listenq when men say, ‘David is bent on harmingr you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spareds you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cutt off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guiltyu of wrongdoingv or rebellion. I have not wrongedw you, but you are huntingx me down to take my life.y 12 May the Lord judgez between you and me. And may the Lord avengea the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,b’ so my hand will not touch you.

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?c A flea?d 15 May the Lord be our judgee and decidef between us. May he consider my cause and upholdg it; may he vindicateh me by deliveringi me from your hand.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,j David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,”k he said. “You have treated me well,l but I have treated you badly.m 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord deliveredn me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord rewardo you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be kingp and that the kingdomq of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swearr to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.s”

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.t