24:1
The Cave at En-gedi and the Sparing of the Anointed
And it came to pass, when Shaul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Behold, Dawid is in the wilderness of En-gedi."
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1 Shamu'al 24
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Then Shaul took three thousand chosen men out of all Yashar'al, and went to seek Dawid and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
24:3
The Encounter in the Cave
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Shaul went in to cover his feet: and Dawid and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
24:4
The Severing of the Skirt
And the men of Dawid said unto him, "Behold the day of which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee." Then Dawid arose, and cut off the skirt of Shaul's robe privily.
24:5
The Conviction of the Vessel
And it came to pass afterward, that Dawid's heart smote him, because he had cut off Shaul's skirt.
24:6
And he said unto his men, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 forbid that I should do this thing unto my adun, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄."
24:7
So Dawid stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Shaul. But Shaul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
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The Confrontation and the Legal Defense
Dawid also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Shaul, saying, "My adun the king." And when Shaul looked behind him, Dawid stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
24:9
And Dawid said to Shaul, "Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, Dawid seeketh thy hurt?"
24:10
"Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my adun; for he is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄's anointed."
24:11
"Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it."
24:12
The Appeal to the Celestial Judge
"𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 judge between me and thee, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee."
24:13
"As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee."
24:14
"After whom is the king of Yashar'al come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea."
24:15
"𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."
24:16
The Weeping of the Unanointed King
And it came to pass, when Dawid had made an end of speaking these words unto Shaul, that Shaul said, "Is this thy voice, my son Dawid?" And Shaul lifted up his voice, and wept.
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And he said to Dawid, "Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil."
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"And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not."
24:19
"For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day."
24:20
The Formal Recognition of the Scepter
"And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Yashar'al shall be established in thine hand."
24:21
The Oath of the Seed
"Swear now therefore unto me by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house."
24:22
The Separation of the Matrices
And Dawid swore unto Shaul. And Shaul went home; but Dawid and his men got them up unto the hold.