David Spares Saul Story - Bible

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is in the Desert of En Gedi.' So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel. He set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

He came to the sheep pens along the way. A cave was there. Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.

The men said to David, 'This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands. You can do with him whatever you think best.'' So David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, 'The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master. He is the Lord's anointed. I will not lay my hand on him. I will not touch him.'

With these words David sharply rebuked his men. He did not allow them to attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went on his way.

Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, 'My lord the king!' When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, 'Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not lay my hand on my lord. He is the Lord's anointed.' See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me. But my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds.' So my hand will not touch you.

Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? You are pursuing a dead dog! You are pursuing a single flea! May the Lord be our judge. May he decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it. May he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.'

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, 'Is that your voice, David my son?' And he wept aloud. He said to David, 'You are more righteous than I. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me. The Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king. The kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants. Swear that you will not wipe out my name from my father's family.'

So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home. But David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Some time later, Saul went to look for David again. He camped beside the road. David learned that Saul had come to the desert. He sent out scouts and confirmed that Saul had arrived.

David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was encamped around him.

David asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, 'Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?'

'I'll go with you,' Abishai said.

So David and Abishai went to the army at night. There Saul lay sleeping inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

Abishai said to David, 'Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear. I won't strike him twice.'

But David said to Abishai, 'Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will strike him. Either his time will come and he will die. Or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head. Let's go.'

So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head. Then they left. No one saw or knew about it. No one woke up. They were all sleeping because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

Then David crossed over to the other side. He stood on top of the hill far away. There was a wide space between them. He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, 'Abner! Aren't you going to answer me?'

Abner replied, 'Who is calling to the king?'

David said, 'You are a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you did was not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men deserve to die. You did not guard your master, the Lord's anointed. See where the king's spear is. See where the water jug that was near his head is.'

Saul recognized David's voice. He said, 'Is that your voice, David my son?'

David replied, 'Yes, it is my voice, my lord the king.' He said, 'Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil am I guilty of? Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me from my home in the Lord's inheritance. They have said to me, 'Go, serve other gods.' Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea. He is like someone hunting a partridge in the mountains.'

Then Saul said, 'I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. I have been a fool. I have made a terrible mistake.'

David said, 'Here is the king's spear. Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord handed you over to me today. But I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. As I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life. May he rescue me from all trouble.'

Then Saul said to David, 'May you be blessed, David my son. You will do great things. You will surely triumph.'

So David went on his way. And Saul returned home.

David had two chances to kill Saul. But he refused. He respected that Saul was God's chosen king. He trusted God to take care of Saul in his own time. David did not try to force things to happen. He waited for God's timing. He showed mercy to his enemy. He chose to do right even when it was hard. David is an example of trusting God and showing kindness to those who hurt us.

The David Spares Saul story teaches mercy and self-control. It shows the importance of trusting God rather than seeking revenge. This story highlights patience and faith.