David spares Saul's life

David was hiding from Saul in the wilderness near Engedi. Saul had been trying to find David, and he came with three thousand chosen men. Along the way, Saul entered a cave. He did not know that David and his men were hiding farther inside it.

David’s men saw a chance for David to strike Saul. David crept forward, but instead of killing Saul, he secretly cut off part of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He told his men that he would not attack Saul, because Saul was the LORD’s anointed king. David would not let his men rise against him either.

Saul left the cave and went on his way. Then David came out and called after him. David bowed and showed Saul the piece of robe. He explained that he could have harmed Saul but had chosen not to do it. David said that the LORD would judge between them.

Saul recognized David’s voice and wept. He admitted that David had treated him well even though Saul had treated David badly. Saul also said that he knew David would one day be king. He asked David to promise not to destroy Saul’s family name. David gave Saul that promise. Saul went home, while David and his men returned to their stronghold.

David was living in the wilderness of Engedi because Saul was hunting him. After Saul returned from following the Philistines, he heard where David was and took three thousand chosen men to search for him. During the search, Saul entered a cave. He did not know that David and his men were sitting farther inside.

David’s men saw the moment as an opportunity. They urged David to act against Saul. David moved close enough to cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe without Saul noticing. But afterward David’s heart smote him for what he had done. Saul was still the king whom the LORD had anointed, and David would not stretch out his hand against him. David stopped his men from attacking Saul.

When Saul left the cave, David followed at a distance and called to him. He bowed toward the ground. David asked why Saul listened to people who said David wanted to harm him. The piece of Saul’s robe was evidence. David had been close enough to kill Saul, yet he had spared him.

David put the matter before the LORD. He said the LORD could judge between them and deal with the wrong, but David himself would not raise his hand against Saul. He also pointed out how strange it was for the king of Israel to spend his strength chasing someone like David. David compared the king’s pursuit of him to going after a dead dog or a single flea.

Saul recognized David’s voice and wept. He said David was more righteous than he was, because David had returned good for the evil Saul had done to him. Saul acknowledged that David would become king and that the kingdom of Israel would be established in David’s hand.

Saul then asked David to swear that he would not cut off Saul’s descendants or destroy Saul’s name from his father’s house. David gave the oath. Saul returned home. David and his men went back to their stronghold.

The chapter does not say that all danger between them was finished. It does show a moment when David had power to take revenge and deliberately refused to do so.