I Samuel 24, A Test in a Cave

David continues to run from Saul.

I Samuel 24: 1-4, Saul vulnerable

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. 

David and his men were far back in the cave. 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.

 

David's men are hiding in the caves among the crags. Saul has, unknowingly, made himself very vulnerable to David and his men.  David's men say, "Yes, this is your chance!  It is given by YHWH!"

I Samuel 24: 5-7, Conscience-stricken

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

 

David's conscience bothers him after the mere act of cutting off a corner of Saul's robe! He makes sure to allow Saul to escape.

David, aware that he has been anointed king, still recognizes that Saul is the current anointed. 

I Samuel 24: 8-15, Verbal confrontation

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. He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, `David is bent on harming you'? 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 lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'

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. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 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.

As the old saying goes, `From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 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."

David points out Saul's vulnerability and his own restraint in the cave. He uses this to call out Saul's foolish hatred, chasing a flea from a dead dog. A point is being made to Saul: your obsession is destroying you.

David's words remind Saul that YHWH is watching all of this.

I Samuel 24: 16-22, Saul mollified

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.

"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. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family."

So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Saul concedes David's point and asks for protection for his own family.  Then Saul abandons the chase. Implied in Saul's words are recognition that David has indeed been anointed to be a future king.