David and his men are hiding in a cave when Saul comes in. David cuts off a corner of Saul's robe but refuses to harm the LORD's anointed. Saul weeps and admits David will be king.
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 Engedi .
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 .