After pursuing the Philistines, Saul heard that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi. He chose three thousand men from Israel and went to look for David and his followers. Near some sheepfolds he came to a cave and entered it alone. David and his men were hiding far back inside that cave.
David’s men said this was the day God had put his enemy in his hand. David moved close to Saul and quietly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Immediately he felt troubled even for doing that. He told his men that he would not raise his hand against the king whom God had anointed, and he restrained them.
Saul left the cave and continued down the road. David came out after him and called his name. Saul looked back, and David bowed with his face to the ground. He said Saul should not listen to those who claimed David meant him harm. David had been able to kill Saul in the cave, he said, but had not done it.
David held up the corner of the robe. It showed that he had had the chance to kill Saul and had chosen not to. He said he had not sinned or rebelled against Saul, though Saul was hunting him. Why, he asked, was the king of Israel pursuing someone as insignificant as a dead dog or a flea?
Saul recognized David’s voice and wept. He called David more righteous than himself, saying David had returned good for evil. Saul said he knew David would become king and asked him to swear not to cut off Saul’s descendants. David swore to him. Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Even after cutting the robe, David said that he must not raise his hand against the king anointed by God. His men saw an opportunity to kill Saul, but David stopped them. After Saul left the cave, David stood at a distance and called to Saul and Abner, pointing to Saul’s spear and water jar and reproving Abner for failing to guard the king.
David said that although God might give a person into an enemy’s hand, he had not laid a hand on Saul. He asked God to judge between them and keep him from taking vengeance himself. Saul admitted that David had repaid him with good and said he knew David would become king. He asked David to swear not to destroy his name or family.
After David swore, Saul returned home and David with his men went up to the stronghold. Saul had entered the cave and left it alive. David finished speaking from a distance with the torn corner of the robe in his hand, and the two parties departed separately.