1 Samuel

Chapter 24

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֥'al dּavi֖d mishshּa֑m vayּe֖shsheb bּimetzad֥ot 'eֽyn-gּeֽdiy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."

וַיַּ֥עַל דָּוִ֖ד מִשָּׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בִּמְצָד֥וֹת עֵֽין־גֶּֽדִי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֗y kּaֽ'ashsher֙ shsha֣b shsha'֔ul me'achare֖y pּelishshetּi֑ym vayּagּi֤du lo֙ le'mo֔r hinּe֣h davi֔d bּemidebּa֖r 'e֥yn gּeֽdiy׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁ֣ב שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqּa֣ch shsha'֗ul shshelo֧shshet 'alapi֛ym 'i֥yshsh bּach֖ur mikּal-yishsera'e֑l vayּe֗leke lebaqּe֤shsh 'et-dּavid֙ vaֽ'anashsha֔yv 'al-pּene֖y tzure֥y hayּe'eliֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He came to the sheepfolds along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.

וַיִּקַּ֣ח שָׁא֗וּל שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ בָּח֖וּר מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עַל־פְּנֵ֖י צוּרֵ֥י הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va֠yּabo 'el-gּider֨ot hatzּo֤'n 'al-hadּe֨reke֙ veshsha֣m me'ara֔h vayּabo֥ shsha'֖ul lehase֣ke 'et-ragela֑yv vedavid֙ va'anashsha֔yv bּeyarekּete֥y hamּe'ara֖h yoshshebiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

וַ֠יָּבֹא אֶל־גִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אן עַל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם מְעָרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְהָסֵ֣ךְ אֶת־רַגְלָ֑יו וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמְּעָרָ֖ה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'meru֩ 'aneshshe֨y davi֜d 'ela֗yv hinּe֨h hayּ֜om 'aֽshsher-'ama֧r yehva֣h 'ele֗yka hinּe֨h 'anoki֜y note֤n 'et-'ybyk 'oֽyibeka֙ bּeyade֔ka ve'ashsi֣yta lּ֔o kּa'ashshe֖r yita֣b bּe'eyne֑yka vayּa֣qam dּavi֗d vayּikero֛t 'et-kּenaֽp-hamּe'i֥yl 'ashsher-leshsha'֖ul bּalּaֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Afterwards, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י דָוִ֜ד אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה הַיּ֜וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־אָמַ֧ר יְהוָ֣ה אֵלֶ֗יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י נֹתֵ֤ן אֶת־איביך אֹֽיִבְךָ֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יִטַ֣ב בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֗ד וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־כְּנַֽף־הַמְּעִ֥יל אֲשֶׁר־לְשָׁא֖וּל בַּלָּֽט׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyehiy֙ 'aֽcharey-ke֔n vayּa֥ke leb-dּavi֖d 'ot֑o 'a֚l 'ashshe֣r kּara֔t 'et-kּana֖p 'ashshe֥r leshsha'ֽul׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."

וַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֥ךְ לֵב־דָּוִ֖ד אֹת֑וֹ עַ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֔ת אֶת־כָּנָ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer la'anashsha֜yv chali֧ylah lּi֣y meֽyhva֗h 'im-'e'eshseh֩ 'et-hadּaba֨r hazּe֤h laֽ'doniy֙ limeshshi֣ycha yehva֔h lishshelo֥cha yadi֖y bּ֑o kּiֽy-meshshi֥ycha yehva֖h hֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו חָלִ֧ילָה לִּ֣י מֵֽיהוָ֗ה אִם־אֶעֱשֶׂה֩ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֨ר הַזֶּ֤ה לַֽאדֹנִי֙ לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהוָ֔ה לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayeshshasּa֨ dּavi֤d 'et-'anashshayv֙ bּadּebari֔ym velo֥ netana֖m laq֣um 'el-shsha'֑ul veshsha'֛ul qa֥m mehamּe'ara֖h vayּe֥leke bּadּaֽreke׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Then David went out of the cave and 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.

וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א נְתָנָ֖ם לָק֣וּם אֶל־שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֛וּל קָ֥ם מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֨qam dּavi֜d 'acharey-ke֗n vayּetze'֙ mn-hm'rh meֽhamּe'ara֔h vayּiqera֧ 'aֽcharey-shsha'֛ul le'mo֖r 'adoni֣y hamּe֑leke vayּabּe֤t shsha'ul֙ 'aֽchara֔yv vayּiqּo֨d dּavi֥d 'apּa֛yim 'a֖retzah vayּishshetּaֽchu׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?

וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֜ד אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּצֵא֙ מן־המערה מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֧א אַֽחֲרֵי־שָׁא֛וּל לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּבֵּ֤ט שָׁאוּל֙ אַֽחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּקֹּ֨ד דָּוִ֥ד אַפַּ֛יִם אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer dּavid֙ leshsha'֔ul la֧mּah tishshema֛ 'et-dּibere֥y 'ada֖m le'mo֑r hinּe֣h davi֔d mebaqּe֖shsh ra'ateֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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, because he is the LORD’s anointed.'

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל לָ֧מָּה תִשְׁמַ֛ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hinּeh֩ hayּ֨om hazּe֜h ra'֣u 'eyne֗yka 'e֣t 'ashsher-netaneka֩ yehva֨h ׀ hayּ֤om ׀ bּeyadiy֙ bּamּe'ara֔h ve'ama֥r laharagaka֖ vatּa֣chas 'ale֑yka va'oma֗r lo'-'eshshela֤ch yadiy֙ bּaֽ'doni֔y kּiy-meshshi֥ycha yehva֖h hֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

הִנֵּה֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־נְתָנְךָ֩ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הַיּ֤וֹם ׀ בְּיָדִי֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְאָמַ֥ר לַהֲרָגֲךָ֖ וַתָּ֣חָס עָלֶ֑יךָ וָאֹמַ֗ר לֹא־אֶשְׁלַ֤ח יָדִי֙ בַּֽאדֹנִ֔י כִּי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'abi֣y re'e֔h gּa֗m re'e֛h 'et-kּena֥p me'iyleka֖ bּeyadi֑y kּi֡y bּekaretiy֩ 'et-kּena֨p me'iֽyleka֜ velo֣ haragetּi֗yka dּa֤ ure'eh֙ kּiy֩ 'e֨yn bּeyadi֜y ra'a֤h vape֨shsha'֙ velo'-chata֣'tiy la֔ke ve'atּa֛h tzode֥h 'et-napeshshi֖y leqachetּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

וְאָבִ֣י רְאֵ֔ה גַּ֗ם רְאֵ֛ה אֶת־כְּנַ֥ף מְעִילְךָ֖ בְּיָדִ֑י כִּ֡י בְּכָרְתִי֩ אֶת־כְּנַ֨ף מְעִֽילְךָ֜ וְלֹ֣א הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ דַּ֤ע וּרְאֵה֙ כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין בְּיָדִ֜י רָעָ֤ה וָפֶ֨שַׁע֙ וְלֹא־חָטָ֣אתִי לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֛ה צֹדֶ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): yishshepּo֤t yehvah֙ bּeyni֣y ubeyne֔ka uneqama֥niy yehva֖h mimּe֑kּa veyadi֖y lo֥ tiֽheyeh-bּaֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.

יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט יְהוָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּנְקָמַ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּa'ashshe֣r yo'ma֗r meshshal֙ haqּademoni֔y mereshsha'i֖ym ye֣tze re֑shsha veyadi֖y lo֥ tiֽheyeh-bּaֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאמַ֗ר מְשַׁל֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים יֵ֣צֵא רֶ֑שַׁע וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): achare֨y mi֤y yatza'֙ me֣leke yishsera'e֔l 'achare֥y mi֖y 'atּa֣h rode֑p 'aֽcharey֙ kּe֣leb me֔t 'achare֖y pּare'o֥shsh 'echaֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."

אַחֲרֵ֨י מִ֤י יָצָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַחֲרֵ֥י מִ֖י אַתָּ֣ה רֹדֵ֑ף אַֽחֲרֵי֙ כֶּ֣לֶב מֵ֔ת אַחֲרֵ֖י פַּרְעֹ֥שׁ אֶחָֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaya֤h yehvah֙ ledayּa֔n veshshapa֖t bּeyni֣y ubeyne֑ka veye֨re'֙ veyare֣b 'et-riybi֔y veyishshepּete֖niy miyּadeֽka׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.

וְהָיָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְדַיָּ֔ן וְשָׁפַ֖ט בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְיֵ֨רֶא֙ וְיָרֵ֣ב אֶת־רִיבִ֔י וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ׀ kּekalּ֣ot dּavi֗d ledabּe֞r 'et-hadּebari֤ym ha'e֨lּeh֙ 'el-shsha'֔ul vayּo֣'mer shsha'֔ul haqoleka֥ ze֖h bּeni֣y davi֑d vayּishsּa֥ shsha'֛ul qol֖o vayּeֽbekּe׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת דָּוִ֗ד לְדַבֵּ֞ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הֲקֹלְךָ֥ זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיִּשָּׂ֥א שָׁא֛וּל קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer֙ 'el-dּavi֔d tzadּi֥yq 'atּa֖h mimּe֑nּiy kּi֤y 'atּah֙ gּemaletּa֣niy hatּoba֔h va'ani֖y gּemaletּi֥yka hara'aֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד צַדִּ֥יק אַתָּ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נִּי כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ גְּמַלְתַּ֣נִי הַטּוֹבָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י גְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָ הָרָעָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): v't ve'atּah֙ higּa֣detּa hayּ֔om 'e֛t 'ashsher-'ashsi֥ytah 'itּi֖y toba֑h 'et֩ 'ashshe֨r sigּera֧niy yehva֛h bּeyadeka֖ velo֥ haragetּaֽniy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

ואת וְאַתָּה֙ הִגַּ֣דְתָּ הַיּ֔וֹם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָה אִתִּ֖י טוֹבָ֑ה אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר סִגְּרַ֧נִי יְהוָ֛ה בְּיָדְךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekiֽy-yimetza֥ 'iyshsh֙ 'et-'o֣yeb֔o veshshilּech֖o bּede֣reke toba֑h vaֽyhvah֙ yeshshalּemeka֣ toba֔h tּa֚chat hayּ֣om hazּe֔h 'ashshe֥r 'ashsi֖ytah liֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

וְכִֽי־יִמְצָ֥א אִישׁ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְב֔וֹ וְשִׁלְּח֖וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ טוֹבָ֑ה וַֽיהוָה֙ יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֚חַת הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָה לִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּah֙ hinּe֣h yada֔'etּiy kּi֥y malo֖ke tּimel֑oke veqa֨mah֙ bּeya֣deka֔ mamele֖ket yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family."

וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י מָלֹ֖ךְ תִּמְל֑וֹךְ וְקָ֨מָה֙ בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ מַמְלֶ֖כֶת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּa֗h hishshּa֤be'ah lּiy֙ bּaֽyhva֔h 'im-tּakeri֥yt 'et-zare'i֖y 'aֽchara֑y ve'im-tּashshemi֥yd 'et-shshemi֖y mibּe֥yt 'abiֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. Character had triumphed.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה אִם־תַּכְרִ֥ית אֶת־זַרְעִ֖י אַֽחֲרָ֑י וְאִם־תַּשְׁמִ֥יד אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י מִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע דָּוִ֖ד לְשָׁא֑וּל וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְדָוִד֙ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עָל֖וּ עַל־הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃פ