1 Samuel24
New American Standard
1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.
3And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.
4Then David’s men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to hand your enemy over to you, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’” Then David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.
5But it came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.
6So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the Lord that I would do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”
7And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
8Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking to harm you’?
10Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.
12May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
15May the Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.”
16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept.
17And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.
18You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord handed me over to you and yet you did not kill me.
19Though if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.
20Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.”
22And David swore an oath to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 24.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David spares Saul's life. (1–7). David shows his innocence. (8–15). Saul acknowledges his fault. (16–22).
vv1-7
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, against doing Saul any hurt. Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist temptations thereto. He not only would not do this bad thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it. Thus he rendered good for evil, to him from whom he received evil for good; and was herein an example to all who are called Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.
vv8-15
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
vv16-22
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Ps 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leave it to God to secure them the credit of it. Sooner or later, God will force even those who are of the synagogue of Satan to know and to own those whom he has loved. They parted in peace. Saul went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his envy to David, yet retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that when at last he had found David, he could not find in his heart to destroy him, as he had designed. Malice often seems dead when it is only asleep, and will revive with double force. Yet, whether the Lord bind men's hands, or affect their hearts, so that they do not hurt us, the deliverance is equally from him; it is an evidence of his love, and an earnest of our salvation, and should make us thankful.
Key Words
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
הִנֵּה: lo!
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
עֵין גֶּדִי: En-Gedi, a place in Palestine
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
Cross References
1 Samuel 24David's repeated refusal to stretch forth his hand against Saul because he is the Lord's anointed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
David refrains from vengeance, exemplifying overcoming evil with good and leaving vengeance to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identical Hebrew idiom 'cover his feet' used for relieving oneself or resting in a chamber.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jonathan previously acknowledged David's future kingship, which Saul now explicitly concedes.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Saul's plea for his descendants echoes Jonathan's earlier covenant with David.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The psalm composed by David specifically when he was hiding in the cave.
Supported by JFB
Parallel instance where David's heart smites him for an action (numbering the people).
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
David repeats his self-deprecating flea metaphor to demonstrate the absurdity of Saul's pursuit.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Saul repeats the exact emotional recognition of David's voice in their subsequent encounter.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God brings forth David's righteousness as the light, forcing Saul to confess it.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David again attributes Saul's hostility to the instigation of malicious slanderers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David protests his innocence of plotting evil, aligning with his actions in the cave.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mephibosheth uses the same 'dead dog' self-deprecation before David, mimicking his father's humility.
Supported by JFB
Connects David's dwelling at En-gedi directly from the close of the preceding chapter.
Supported by Matthew Poole