David Spares Saul

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (when) שָׁ֣ב (had returned) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י (from after) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines), וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ (that it was declared) לוֹ֙ (to him), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), דָוִ֔ד (David is) בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר (in the Wilderness) עֵ֥ין (of En-) גֶּֽדִי׃ס (gedi). 2  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִ֛ים (thousand) אִ֥ישׁ (men) בָּח֖וּר (chosen) מִכָּל־ (from all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (and he went) לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ (to seek) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִד֙ (David) וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו (and his men) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵ֖י (the face) צוּרֵ֥י (of the Rocks) הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃ (of the Wild Goats).

3  וַ֠יָּבֹא (And he came) אֶל־ (to) גִּדְר֨וֹת (the folds) הַצֹּ֤אן (of the flock) עַל־ (by) הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the road), וְשָׁ֣ם (and there was) מְעָרָ֔ה (a cave). וַיָּבֹ֥א (And went in) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) לְהָסֵ֣ךְ (to cover) אֶת־ (-) רַגְלָ֑יו (his feet). וְדָוִד֙ (And David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו (and his men) בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י (in the recesses) הַמְּעָרָ֖ה (of the cave) יֹשְׁבִֽים׃ (were staying). 4  וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (And said) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) דָוִ֜ד (of David) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), הִנֵּ֨ה (This is) הַיּ֜וֹם (the day) אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (of which) אָמַ֧ר (said) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֵלֶ֗יךָ (to you), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אָנֹכִ֜י (I) נֹתֵ֤ן (will deliver) אֶת־ (-) אֹיְבֶיךָ (your enemy) בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ (into your hand), וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ (that you may do) לּ֔וֹ (to him) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) יִטַ֣ב (is good) בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (in your eyes).

וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֗ד (David) וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת (and cut off) אֶת־ (-) כְּנַֽף־ (a corner) הַמְּעִ֥יל (of the robe) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) לְשָׁא֖וּל (was on Saul)— בַּלָּֽט׃ (in secrecy).

5  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) אַֽחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֔ן (thus), וַיַּ֥ךְ (that troubled) לֵב־ (the heart) דָּוִ֖ד (of David) אֹת֑וֹ (him), עַ֚ל (upon) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) כָּרַ֔ת (he had cut off) אֶת־ (-) כָּנָ֖ף (the skirt) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ס (was on Saul). 6  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And he said) לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו (to his men), חָלִ֧ילָה (Far be it) לִּ֣י (from me), מֵֽיהוָ֗ה (YHWH), אִם־ (that) אֶעֱשֶׂה֩ (I should do) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֨ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֤ה (this) לַֽאדֹנִי֙ (to my master)— לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ (to the anointed) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH)— לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ (to stretch out) יָדִ֖י (my hand) בּ֑וֹ (against him), כִּֽי־ (since) מְשִׁ֥יחַ (the anointed) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הֽוּא׃ (he is).

7  וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע (And restrained) דָּוִ֤ד (since) אֶת־ (-) אֲנָשָׁיו֙ (his servants) בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים (with words), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נְתָנָ֖ם (did he allow them) לָק֣וּם (to rise) אֶל־ (against) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul). וְשָׁא֛וּל (And Saul) קָ֥ם (got up) מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה (from the cave) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and went) בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ס (on his way).

8  וַיָּ֨קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אַחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֗ן (thus), וַיֵּצֵא֙ (and he went out) מִן־ (of) הַמְּעָרָה (the cave), וַיִּקְרָ֧א (and he called out) אַֽחֲרֵי־ (to) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), אֲדֹנִ֣י (My lord) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king)!

וַיַּבֵּ֤ט (And looked) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אַֽחֲרָ֔יו (behind him), וַיִּקֹּ֨ד (bowed) דָּוִ֥ד (David) אַפַּ֛יִם (nostrils) אַ֖רְצָה (to the earth), וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ס (and bowed down). 9  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) לְשָׁא֔וּל (to Saul), לָ֧מָּה (Why) תִשְׁמַ֛ע (do you listen) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֥י (to the words) אָדָ֖ם (of a man) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), דָוִ֔ד (David) מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (is seeking) רָעָתֶֽךָ׃ (your harm)’ 10  הִנֵּה֩ (behold), הַיּ֨וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֜ה (this) רָא֣וּ (have seen) עֵינֶ֗יךָ (your eyes) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נְתָנְךָ֩ (had delivered you) יְהוָ֨ה׀ (YHWH) הַיּ֤וֹם׀ (today) בְּיָדִי֙ (into my hand) בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה (in the cave). וְאָמַ֥ר (And one said) לַהֲרָגֲךָ֖ (to kill you), וַתָּ֣חָס (and it had pity) עָלֶ֑יךָ (on you), וָאֹמַ֗ר (and I said), לֹא־ (Not) אֶשְׁלַ֤ח (I will stretch out) יָדִי֙ (my hand) בַּֽאדֹנִ֔י (against my lord); כִּי־ (for) מְשִׁ֥יחַ (the anointed) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הֽוּא׃ (he is).

11  וְאָבִ֣י (And my father), רְאֵ֔ה (see), גַּ֗ם (yes), רְאֵ֛ה (see) אֶת־ (-) כְּנַ֥ף (the corner) מְעִילְךָ֖ (of your robe) בְּיָדִ֑י (in my hand)! כִּ֡י (For) בְּכָרְתִי֩ (by cutting off) אֶת־ (-) כְּנַ֨ף (the skirt) מְעִֽילְךָ֜ (of your robe), וְלֹ֣א (and not) הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ (did kill you), דַּ֤ע (know) וּרְאֵה֙ (and see) כִּי֩ (that) אֵ֨ין (are not) בְּיָדִ֜י (in my hand) רָעָ֤ה (evil) וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ (and rebellion), וְלֹא־ (and not) חָטָ֣אתִי (I have sinned) לָ֔ךְ (against you), וְאַתָּ֛ה (and you) צֹדֶ֥ה (hunt) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my life) לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ (to take it).

12  יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט (May judge) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בֵּינִ֣י (between me) וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ (and between you), וּנְקָמַ֥נִי (and may avenge me) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מִמֶּ֑ךָּ (on you). וְיָדִ֖י (And my hand) לֹ֥א (not) תִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) בָּֽךְ׃ (against you). 13  כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (As) יֹאמַ֗ר (says) מְשַׁל֙ (the proverb) הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י (of the ancients), מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים (From the wicked) יֵ֣צֵא (proceeds) רֶ֑שַׁע (wickedness), וְיָדִ֖י (and my hand) לֹ֥א (not) תִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) בָּֽךְ׃ (against you).

14  אַחֲרֵ֨י (After) מִ֤י (whom) יָצָא֙ (has come out) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel)? אַחֲרֵ֥י (After) מִ֖י (whom) אַתָּ֣ה (you) רֹדֵ֑ף (do pursue)? אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (After) כֶּ֣לֶב (a dog) מֵ֔ת (dead)? אַחֲרֵ֖י (After) פַּרְעֹ֥שׁ (flea) אֶחָֽד׃ (one)? 15  וְהָיָ֤ה (And may be) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לְדַיָּ֔ן (judge), וְשָׁפַ֖ט (and judge) בֵּינִ֣י (between me) וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ (and between you), וְיֵ֙רֶא֙ (and may He see) וְיָרֵ֣ב (and plead) אֶת־ (-) רִיבִ֔י (my case), וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי (and deliver me) מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃פ (out of your hand).

David’s Oath to Saul

16  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), כְּכַלּ֣וֹת (when had finished) דָּוִ֗ד (David) לְדַבֵּ֞ר (speaking) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֤ים (the words) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (that said) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), הֲקֹלְךָ֥ (Is your voice) זֶ֖ה (this), בְּנִ֣י (my son) דָוִ֑ד (David)?

וַיִּשָּׂ֥א (And lifted up) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) קֹל֖וֹ (his voice) וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ (and wept). 17  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), צַדִּ֥יק (More righteous) אַתָּ֖ה (you are) מִמֶּ֑נִּי (than I), כִּ֤י (for) אַתָּה֙ (you) גְּמַלְתַּ֣נִי (have dome me) הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (the good), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) גְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָ (have done you) הָרָעָֽה׃ (the evil). 18  וְאַתְּ (And you) הִגַּ֣דְתָּ (have shown) הַיּ֔וֹם (today) אֵ֛ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (how) עָשִׂ֥יתָה (you have done) אִתִּ֖י (with me) טוֹבָ֑ה (good); אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) סִגְּרַ֧נִי (delivered me) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) בְּיָדְךָ֖ (into your hand), וְלֹ֥א (and not) הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃ (you did kill me). 19  וְכִֽי־ (When) יִמְצָ֥א (finds) אִישׁ֙ (a man) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֣יְב֔וֹ (his enemy), וְשִׁלְּח֖וֹ (and does he send him away) בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (in a manner) טוֹבָ֑ה (good)? וַֽיהוָה֙ (And YHWH) יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ (does repay you) טוֹבָ֔ה (with good) תַּ֚חַת (for) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (what) עָשִׂ֖יתָה (you have done) לִֽי׃ (to me).

20  וְעַתָּה֙ (And) הִנֵּ֣ה (behold), יָדַ֔עְתִּי (I know) כִּ֥י (that) מָלֹ֖ךְ (being king) תִּמְל֑וֹךְ (you shall reign), וְקָ֙מָה֙ (and shall stand) בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ (in your hand) מַמְלֶ֖כֶת (the kingdom) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 21  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה (swear) לִּי֙ (to me) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH) אִם־ (that not) תַּכְרִ֥ית (you will cut off) אֶת־ (-) זַרְעִ֖י (my seed) אַֽחֲרָ֑י (after me), וְאִם־ (or) תַּשְׁמִ֥יד (destroy) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמִ֖י (my name) מִבֵּ֥ית (from the house) אָבִֽי׃ (of my father).

22  וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע (And swore) דָּוִ֖ד (David) לְשָׁא֑וּל (to Saul). וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (And went) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house); וְדָוִד֙ (and David) וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו (and his men) עָל֖וּ (went up) עַל־ (to) הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃פ (the stronghold).