1 i And it was, just as Saul returned from going after Philistines, so they declared to him, saying, “Behold, David is in Spring of Gedi's wilderness.” 2 i And Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the face of the rocks of the mountain goats. 3 i And he came to the sheepfolds by the road, and there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet, ii and David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.
4 i And David's men said to him, “Behold, today is where Yehvah said to you, 'Behold, I am giving your enemies iii in your hand, and you shall do to him just as is good in your eyes.'” And David arose and cut the edge of Saul's robe in secret. 5 i And it was, afterward, David's heart struck him, because he cut an edge that was Saul's. 6 i And he said to his men, “Far be it for me from Yehvah, if I do this thing to my lord, to Yehvah's anointed, to send my hand against him; for he is Yehvah's anointed.” 7 i And David dispersed iv his men in the words and did not give them to rise against Saul. And Saul arose from the cave and went on the road.
8 i And David arose afterward and went out from the cave and called out after Saul, saying, “My lord, the king.” And Saul looked after him, and David bowed, nostrils v to earth, and bowed down. 9 i And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to words of man, vi saying, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? 10 i Look, this day your eyes see where Yehvah gave you today into my hand in the cave. And it was said to kill you, and she vii had pity on you. And I said, 'I will not send my hand against my lord, for he is Yehvah's anointed.' 11 i And my father, see also, see your robe's edge in my hand. For in my cutting off your robe's edge and I did not kill you, know and see there is no harm and transgression in my hand. And I have not sinned against you. And you lie in wait for my soul to take it. 12 i Yehvah judge between me and you, and Yehvah avenge me from you. And my hand will not be against you. 13 i Just as the proverb of the ancients says, 'Wickedness goes out from wicked ones.' And my hand shall not be against you. 14 i After who has the king of Israel gone out? After who are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea? 15 i And Yehvah be for judge, and he judge between me and you. And may he see and plead my case and judge viii me from your hand.”
16 i And it was, when David finished speaking these words to Saul, so Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David.” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 i And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I. You have dealt me the good, and I have dealt you the bad. 18 i And you have declared today with which you have done me good, wherein Yehvah delivered me in your hand; and you did not kill me. 19 i If a man finds his enemy, will he send him away in a good way? So Yehvah repay you good for what you did to me this day. 20 i And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign, and Israel's kingdom shall arise in your hand. 21 i And now, swear to me in Yehvah you will not cut off my seed after me nor exterminate my name from my father's house.” 22 i And David swore to Saul, and Saul went to his house. And David and his men went up on the stronghold.
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.
- In Hebrew, all of the verses in this chapter are offset by one, because 1 Samuel 24 starts in the last verse of the previous chapter. Verse 1 in English is verse 2 in Hebrew, and so on.. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
- ו לי גל ת־רג את ך סך הי לל) lehâsêkh 'et-raglâyv) “to cover his feet” i.e. to go poop. See Judges 3:24 and footnote. See also Leviticus 4:11 for more on poop. ^
- Written יך איילבת') oyveykhâ) “your enemies”; read ך אייבבל') oyivkhâ) “your enemy” ^
- ילשגסגע) yeshassa`, piel verb) “dispersed” MEV; “checked” WEB; “restrained” NKJV; “subdueth” YLT; “persuaded” NAS – in piel used elsewhere for “split” (Leviticus 1:17); tear in two (Judges 14:6). ^
- ם פג אג') apayim) “nostrils” - same word as “nostrils” (NKJV) e.g. in Genesis 2:7; 7:22; Exodus 15:8; etc.. ^
- “man) “âdâm ('אי די ם ^
- תיחיס) tâchâs) “she had pity” - feminine verb referring to David's “hand” (feminine noun). ^
- נבי טך פל יבשל) yishpetêniy) “judge me”; DARBY “do me justice”; NIV “may he vindicate me”; NKJV, etc. “deliver me” - same root verb as the prior “judge” (NKJV). ^
"Do not give the holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the pigs, lest they trample them with their feet and turning tear you." -- kusi (kusi) - "dogs" - see also Deuteronomy 23:17-18; Judges 7:5-6; 1 Samuel 24:14; 2 Samuel 9:8; 16:9; 2 Kings 8:11-13; Psalm 22:16, 20; 59:6, 14; Proverbs 26:11, 17; Isaiah 56:10-11; Matthew 15:26-27 (Mark 7:27-28); Philippians 3:2; Revelation 22:15. Amazing, God calls people dogs, swine, serpents (e.g. Matthew 23:33), even cows (Amos 4:1).
And David said to his heart, “Now, I will be swept away one day by Saul's hand. There's nothing good for me, except to escape. I shall escape to Philistines' land. And Saul will despair from seeking me again in all Israel's border, and I shall escape from his hand.” -- Even though David had spared Saul's life twice now (1 Samuel 24 & 26), and Saul twice acknowledged his error, David still doesn't trust him.
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. -- egw eimi o cristov (egô eimi ho christos) - “I am the Christ” - this = “I am the anointed” or “I am the anointed one.” Christ (cristov) means “anointed.” For example, cristov (christos) is found in the LXX in Leviticus 4:5, 16; 6:22(H6:15) for “the anointed priest” (o iereuv o cristov [ho iereus ho christos]; Hebrew j'yviM;h' ÷heKoh' [hakkohên hammâshiyach]), 1 Samuel 12:5 for “His anointed” (cristov autou [christos autou]), and 1 Samuel 24:6(H7), 10(H11); Lamentations 4:20 for “the Lord's anointed” or “the anointed of the Lord” (cristov kuriou [christos kurios], Hebrew hw:hy] j'yvim; [mâshiyach yehvah]). See also Mark 13:6.
And he said, “Yehvah is my rock and my stronghold and my deliverer for me. -- מְצֻדָתִי (metsudâtiy) “stronghold” - same word as “stronghold” in 1 Samuel 22:4-5; 24:23; 2 Samuel 5:7, 9; 17.