Saul had been forced to temporarily forget his effort to capture and kill David due to a Philistine invasion, but as soon as the threat was eliminated, he went back to his pursuit of David, with three thousand special forces, as described by I Samuel 24:1-2. “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. 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.”
In the wilderness of Engedi were a number of large sheep
corrals where shepherds would shut up their sheepfor protection at night. Near these corrals were caves where the shepherds spent the night, and
some of the caves were quite large.
Tired of hunting David, Saul went into one of the caves to take a nap. As it happened, David and his men were hiding
in that cave but Saul didn’t see them, as I Samuel 24:3 tells us. “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.”
Almost everyone knew that God had chosen David as the next
king of Israel. and David’s men saw this as God giving him an opportunity to
get rid of his enemy, as I Samuel 24a:4describes. “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”
David cut off the skrt of Saul’s robe as proof he could have
killed him, but refused to kill him, hoping it would embarrass him and make him
realize David had no intention of killing him.
Later he regretted even doing that, because although Saul was trying to
kill him, he realized he still had no right to murder him and especially since
he was a man God had chosen, as I Samuel 24b-7 tells us. “Then
David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's
heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 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. 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.”
After Saul left the cave, David revealed himself to him,
Asking why Saul had listened to lies about his wish to kill him and showing he
had no such intention, refusing to do so even when he had the chance, by
displaying Saul’s skirt, as I Samuel 24:8-15 describes. “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. And
David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David
seeketh thy hurt? 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.
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. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD
avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients,
Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out?
after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between
me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”
David was willing to trust God to make things right and
refused to try to force things to happen before God intended it. Saul was forced to admit David was not
trying to kill him and his own actions were wicked. He admitted he knew David was following God
and would one day be king, and asked David to promise not to destroy his
family, in I Samuel 24:16-2. “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. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous
than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast showed 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. 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.
And now, behold, I
know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall
be established in thine hand. 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. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home;
but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”
Saul had repeatedly broken agreements in the past and David did not trust him not to break another one, so he and his men found another hiding place.
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