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. Then, Saul took 3,000 [of the best] men out of all Israel, & went to [search for] David & his men upon 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, that David’s heart [was troubled,] because he had cut off Saul's skirt [of his robe.] 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, [since he’s] the anointed of the Lord. |
So, David [stopped] his servants with these words, & [warned] them not to rise against Saul. But [in the morning,] Saul rose up out of the cave, & went on his way. Afterward, David also arose, & went out of the cave & cried [out] after Saul, saying, My lord, the king. |
And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed himself, [facing] the [ground.] And David said to Saul, [For what reason] [have] you, [listened to] men's words saying, [See,] David [seeks to] hurt you? [Look] this day, your [own] eyes have seen how the Lord had delivered you today into [my] hand in the cave; & some [begged] me [to] kill you, but [I] spared you. |
I said, I will not put [out my] hand against my lord, [a.k.a. king Saul,] for he is the Lord’s anointed. [Additionally,] my father, see the [corner of] your robe in my hand, & in that, I cut the skirt of your robe 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, [a.k.a. life,] 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. |
Therefore, the Lord [is] Judge, & [will] judge between me & you, & see & plead my [case,] & deliver me out of your hand. And it [happened,] when David had [finished] speaking to Saul, that 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 had delivered me into your hand, & you [didn’t] kill me. |
For 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, [see,] I know [for certain] that you [shall] surely be king, & the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. |
Therefore, now, swear to me by the Lord, that you won’t cut off my seed, [a.k.a. descendants,] after me, & that you [won’t] destroy my name out of my father’s house. And David [swore] to Saul. And Saul went home, but David & his men [got themselves] up to the [safe place of refuge.] |