1 Samuel 24: Mercy in the Cave
With Saul defenseless in the cave at En-gedi, David refuses to harm the Lord's anointed and entrusts his cause to God.
1 Samuel 24 (WEB)
1 When Saul was returned from following the Philistines, it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5 Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6 He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks your hurt?’
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand shall not be on you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15 May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16 It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18 You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
20 Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
1 Samuel 24 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En–gedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord 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 David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day 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 lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.
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.
12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
1 Samuel 24 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Jehovah’s anointed.
7 So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah’s anointed.
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 my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.
12 Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.
18 And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.
Summary
Returning from fighting the Philistines, Saul takes three thousand chosen men to hunt David among the rocks of the wild goats at En-gedi. By God's providence Saul enters the very cave where David and his men are hiding, going in to relieve himself, utterly defenseless. David's men urge him to seize the moment, but David only creeps forward and cuts off a corner of Saul's robe, and even that pricks his conscience. He restrains his men, refusing to stretch out his hand against Yahweh's anointed. When Saul leaves, David follows and calls out, bowing low, showing the robe's corner as proof he could have killed but did not. He pleads his innocence and commits his cause to God, saying the Lord will judge between them and avenge him, but his own hand will not be on the king. Saul is broken to tears, confesses David is more righteous than he, and acknowledges David will surely be king. He asks David to swear not to cut off his descendants, and David swears, but the two part to their separate places, the king home and David back to his stronghold.
Main Characters
- David — The hunted man who, given the chance to kill Saul, instead spares him, cuts only his robe, and entrusts vengeance to God.
- Saul — The pursuing king caught defenseless in the cave, who weeps and confesses David's righteousness yet does not abandon his throne's grip.
- David's men — Followers who see the cave as God's gift to strike Saul and are restrained by David's reverence for the Lord's anointed.
Key Verse
1 Samuel 24:12 (WEB)
May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
Lessons Learned
- An open opportunity to take revenge is not the same as God's permission to take it.
- A tender conscience grieves even small wrongs, like cutting a robe, against those God has set apart.
- We can refuse to repay evil for evil and still appeal honestly for justice.
- Entrusting our cause to God frees us from the burden of avenging ourselves.
- Opportunity is not the same as God's will. David's men call it the day Yahweh promised, yet David refuses to strike (1 Samuel 24:4-6, WEB). A door standing open does not mean God bids us walk through it.
- Honor God's appointments even when imperfect. “Yahweh forbid that I should… stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6, WEB). David reverences the office God established, not the man's worthiness.
- Leave vengeance to the Lord. “May Yahweh judge between me and you… but my hand shall not be on you” (1 Samuel 24:12, WEB). David appeals to God as judge instead of taking justice into his own hands.
- Mercy can soften even an enemy. Saul wept and said, “You are more righteous than I” (1 Samuel 24:16-17, WEB). Returning good for evil exposes wrong and may melt a hard heart.
- How do David's men interpret Saul's entering the cave, and how does David see it differently?
- Why does David's heart trouble him even for cutting Saul's robe?
- What does David's appeal in verses 12-15 reveal about how he handles injustice?
- How does Saul respond to David's mercy, and how genuine does his repentance seem?
- When have you had a chance to 'get even,' and what would it look like to entrust that situation to God instead?
- David's men see the moment as the fulfillment of God's promise to deliver his enemy into his hand (24:4), but David sees a man who is still Yahweh's anointed and refuses to harm him. He reads the circumstance through reverence rather than opportunity.
- Even cutting the corner of the robe strikes David's conscience (24:5), because it touches the king God had anointed. His tenderness shows a heart more concerned with honoring God than seizing advantage.
- David lays out the evidence of his innocence, refuses to lift his hand, and calls on Yahweh to judge and to plead his cause (24:11-15). He pursues justice through appeal and trust in God, not personal retaliation.
- Saul weeps, calls David more righteous, and admits David will be king (24:16-20), yet he soon resumes the hunt in chapter 26. His remorse is real in the moment but does not produce lasting change—a sobering picture of shallow repentance.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to recall a moment they could have retaliated, and to consider entrusting such situations to God as judge. Point to Christ, who, when reviled, did not revile in return but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.