When Sha’ul came back from following the Pelishtites, they told him, ‘There, David’s in the Gedi Spring Wilderness.’ Sha’ul got 3,000 picked men from all Yisra’el and went to look for David and his men in the direction of Ibex Rocks. He came to sheepfolds by the road and a cave there, and Sha’ul came in to relieve himself, while David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
David’s men said to him, ‘Here, it’s the day that Yahweh said to you, “Here, I’m giving your enemy into your hand and you can do to him as seems good in your eyes.”’ David got up and cut off the corner of Sha’ul’s coat quietly, but afterwards, David’s heart struck him because he’d cut the corner off that belonged to Sha’ul. He said to his men. ‘Far be it from me by Yahweh, if I should do this thing to my lord, to Yahweh’s anointed, in putting out my hand against him, when he’s Yahweh’s anointed!’ David tore his men apart with the words and didn’t let them rise up against Sha’ul.
When Sha’ul set off from the cave and went on his way, David set off afterwards and went out of the cave. He called after Sha’ul, ‘My lord king!’ Sha’ul looked behind him and David bent his head, face to the ground, and bowed low. David said to Sha’ul, ‘Why do you listen to people’s words, saying “There, David is seeking something bad for you”? Here, this day your eyes have seen the fact that Yahweh gave you into my hand today in the cave, and they said to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said I wouldn’t put out my hand against my lord, because he is Yahweh’s anointed.
My father, look and look some more at the corner of your coat in my hand, because when I cut off the corner of your coat, I didn’t kill you. Acknowledge and see that there’s nothing bad and no rebellion in my hand. I haven’t wronged you, but you’re hunting down my life so as to take it. May Yahweh decide between me and you! May Yahweh take redress from you, whereas my hand will not be against you. As the old aphorism says, “It’s from faithless people that faithlessness comes.” Given that my hand will not be against you, after whom has the king of Yisra’el gone out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After a single flea? May Yahweh be judge and may he decide between me and you. May he look and settle my argument and decide for me from your hand.’
When David finished speaking these words to Sha’ul, Sha’ul said, ‘Is this your voice, my son David?’ Sha’ul lifted up his voice and wailed. He said to David, ‘You’re more faithful than me, because you’ve dealt me good things but I’ve dealt you bad things. Today you yourself have told of the good that you did to me, the fact that Yahweh delivered me into your hand and you didn’t kill me. When someone finds his enemy and sends him off on his way with good . . . Yahweh himself will make good to you with good in return this day for what you’ve done for me. And now, here, I acknowledge that you will definitely reign as king and Yisra’el’s kingdom will rise up in your hand. So now, swear to me by Yahweh, if you cut off my offspring after me, if you annihilate my name from my father’s household . . .’
David swore to Sha’ul, and Sha’ul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Goldingay, John The Bible for Everyone . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.