Quotes About Conflict

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?

So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”

Afterward, Davidís conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saulís robe.

With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence

and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ëLook, David intends to harm youí?

See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

As the old proverb says, ëWickedness proceeds from the wicked.í But my hand will never be against 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 you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”

When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

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

While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.

When Davidís young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.

But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

Meanwhile, one of Nabalís young men informed Nabalís wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he scolded them.

As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.

Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.