Who painted David sparing Saul?

Gustave Doré painted David sparing Saul.

What Bible passage does David sparing Saul depict?

David sparing Saul depicts the biblical scene from 1 Samuel 24.

David sparing Saul by Gustave Doré

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In this illustration, we encounter the same characters as in the previous one, but the circumstances have taken a markedly different turn. Here, Saul was seeking David's life, while David magnanimously refrained from taking Saul's. The situation unfolded as follows: The king learned that David had taken refuge in Engedi and set out in pursuit with a contingent of three thousand men. In a twist of fate, he unknowingly placed himself entirely at David's mercy. Seeking respite from the midday sun, he entered the very cave where David and his men were concealed.

David's comrades saw this as a providential opportunity to end the conflict by assassinating Saul. However, David could not bring himself to view it in that light. He chose to await God's timing, refusing to let it be said that he had ascended to the throne through the murder of his predecessor. Instead, he contented himself by snipping off a section of Saul's robe, an act he could perform without disturbing the king's slumber. When Saul awoke and left to rejoin his troops, David followed and called out, "My lord the king." He captured Saul's attention and earnestly professed his innocence of any sinister intentions. As proof, he presented the skirt he held in his hand, which he had taken from Saul's robe when he could just as easily have taken Saul's life. Saul appeared to be moved with remorse and withdrew his men, but David was not prepared to entrust himself to someone as impulsive and distrustful as Saul. He returned to the cave. This encounter left them much as it had found them, but David had demonstrated exceptional self-control and forbearance, and Saul had let yet another opportunity to abandon his malicious pursuit slip away.

The vivid scene is skillfully depicted in the illustration. Palestine boasts numerous locations where individuals can converse across deep ravines that would take hours to circumnavigate. Consequently, the artist situates the king and his assembled host atop a precipitous cliff, while David stands on a lower elevation in the rear, accompanied only by a few of his companions. Displaying the remnant of the royal garment, David calls out, "My father, see, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it."

Details

Artist: Gustave Doré
Medium: engraving
Passage: 1 Samuel 24

Found in: 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24

1 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.

4 David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.

5 Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”

7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.

9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’

10 Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.

12 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.

13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.

14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?

15 May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”

16 It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

18 You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me today.

20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”

22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24 · World English Bible

The artist

Gustave Doré

1832 - 1883

Strasbourg, France

Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré (6 January 1832 – 23 January 1883) was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor who worked primarily with wood-engraving.