24After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.H7586H7725H310H6430H5046H559H1732H4057H58722So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.H7586H3947H7969H505H977H376H3478H3212H1245H1732H582H6440H6697H32773At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!H935H1448H6629H1870H4631H7586H935H5526H7272H1732H582H3427H3411H46314"Now's your opportunity!" David's men whispered to him. "Today the LORD is telling you, 'I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.'" So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul's robe.H582H1732H559H3117H3068H559H5414H341H3027H6213H3190H5869H1732H6965H3772H3671H7586H4598H39095But then David's conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul's robe.H310H1732H3820H5221H3772H7586H36716"The LORD knows I shouldn't have done that to my lord the king," he said to his men. "The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD's anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him."H559H582H3068H2486H6213H1697H113H3068H4899H7971H3027H4899H30687So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,H1732H8156H582H1697H5414H6965H7586H7586H6965H4631H3212H18708David came out and shouted after him, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.H1732H6965H3318H4631H7121H310H7586H559H113H4428H7586H5027H310H1732H6915H639H776H78129Then he shouted to Saul, "Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?H1732H559H7586H8085H120H1697H559H1732H1245H745110This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, 'I will never harm the king—he is the LORD's anointed one.'H3117H5869H7200H3068H5414H3117H3027H4631H559H2026H2347H559H7971H3027H113H3068H489911Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.H1H7200H7200H3671H4598H3027H3772H3671H4598H2026H3045H7200H7451H6588H3027H2398H6658H5315H394712"May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.H3068H8199H3068H5358H302713As that old proverb says, 'From evil people come evil deeds.' So you can be sure I will never harm you.H559H4912H6931H7562H3318H7563H302714Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?H310H4428H3478H3318H310H7291H310H4191H3611H310H259H655015May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!"H3068H1781H8199H7200H7378H7379H8199H302716When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, "Is that really you, my son David?" Then he began to cry.H1732H3615H1696H1697H7586H7586H559H6963H1121H1732H7586H5375H6963H105817And he said to David, "You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.H559H1732H6662H1580H2896H1580H745118Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn't do it.H5046H3117H6213H2896H3068H5462H3027H202619Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.H376H4672H341H7971H2896H1870H3068H7999H2896H6213H311720And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.H3045H4427H4427H4467H3478H6965H302721Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!"H7650H3068H518H3772H2233H310H8045H8034H1H100422So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.H1732H7650H7586H7586H3212H1004H1732H582H5927H4686
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After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.H7586
