Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 024
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And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds
of En-gedi
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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 En-gedi.
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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
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And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave;
and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the
innermost parts of the cave
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And the men of David said unto him: 'Behold the day in
which HaShem hath said unto thee: Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy
hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee.' Then David
arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily
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And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote
him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt
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And he said unto his men: 'The HaShem forbid it me, that I
should do this thing unto my lord, HaShem'S anointed, to put forth my hand
against him, seeing he is HaShem'S anointed.
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So David checked his men with these words, and suffered
them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his
way
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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 bowed with his face to the earth, and prostrated himself
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And David said to Saul: 'Wherefore hearkenest thou to
men's words, saying: Behold, David seeketh thy hurt
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Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that HaShem had
delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill thee; but
mine eye spared thee; and I said: I will not put forth my hand against my lord;
for he is HaShem'S anointed
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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 my hand, and I
have not sinned against thee, though thou layest wait for my soul to take it
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HaShem judge between me and thee, and HaShem avenge me of
thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee
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As saith the proverb of the ancients: Out of the wicked
cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee
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After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost
thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea
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HaShem therefore be judge, and give sentence between me
and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
24:017
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
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And he said to David: `Thou art more righteous than I; for
thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil
24:019
And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt
well with me; forasmuch as when HaShem had delivered me up into thy hand, thou
didst not kill me
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For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?
wherefore HaShem reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this
day
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And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand
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Swear now therefore unto me by HaShem, that thou wilt not
cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my
father's house.
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And David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David
and his men got them up unto the stronghold
Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 024
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