David lived in the safe places of En Gaddi. When Saul returned from the Philistines, he was informed, saying: “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gaddi.” And Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the mountains where the chamois live.
And he came to a sheep pen by the roadside; There was a cave there, and Saul went there to need; David and his men were sitting in the depths of the cave.
And his men said to David:
“This is the day about which the Lord spoke to you: “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands, and you will do with him what you please.”
David stood up and quietly cut off the edge of Saul's outer garment. But after this it pained David’s heart that he cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. And he said to his people:
“May the Lord not allow me to do this to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to lay my hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”
And David restrained his people with these words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. And Saul got up and went out of the cave onto the road.
Then David also stood up and came out of the cave, and shouted after Saul, saying:
- My lord, king!
Saul looked back, and David fell face down on the ground and bowed to him. And David said to Saul:
“Why do you listen to the speeches of people who say: “Behold, David is plotting evil against you”? Behold, today your eyes see that the Lord has today delivered you into my hands in the cave; and they told me to kill you; but I spared you and said: “I will not lift up my hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” My father! look at the hem of your garment in my hand; I cut off the hem of your garment, but did not kill you: find out and make sure that there is no evil or deceit in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; and you are looking for my soul to take it away. May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take revenge on you for me; but my hand will not be on you, as the ancient parable says: “From the wicked comes lawlessness.” And my hand will not be on you. Who did the king of Israel go up against? Who are you chasing? Behind a dead dog, behind one flea. Let the Lord be the judge and judge between me and you. He will examine, sort out my case, and save me from your hand.
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said:
“Is this your voice, my son David?”
And Saul lifted up his voice and wept, and said to David:
“You are more right than me, for you repaid me with good, and I repaid you with evil; You showed this today by treating me mercifully when the Lord delivered me into your hands, you did not kill me. Who, having found his enemy, would send him on his way? The Lord will reward you with goodness for what you did to me today. And now I know that you will surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel will be firmly in your hand. So, swear to me by the Lord that you will not uproot my descendants after me and destroy my name in my father’s house.
And David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the fortified place.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru