Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.
Look, today 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 showed you mercy. I said, 'I will not raise my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's chosen one.'
David is telling King Saul that he had the perfect opportunity to kill him in the cave but chose to spare his life because Saul was God's chosen king.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel, David was fleeing from King Saul, who was consumed by jealousy and fear that David would take his throne. One day, while Saul was relieving himself in a cave where David and his men were hiding, David had the perfect opportunity to kill him but instead only cut off a piece of Saul's robe. This act demonstrated David's deep respect for God's anointing on Saul as the rightful king, even though Saul was actively hunting him.
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