1 Samuel24
New International Version
1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
2So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3He 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.
4The 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.
5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
7With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8Then 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.
9He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
10This 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 lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11See, 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. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
12May 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.
13As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
14“Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15May 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.”
16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.
17“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
18You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.
19When 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.
20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned 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