1 Samuel24
World English Bible · Public Domain
1When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
2Then 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.
3He 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.
4David’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.
5Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6He 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.”
7So 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.
8David 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.
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
10Behold, 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. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’
11Moreover, 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. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16It 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.
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18You 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.
19For 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.
20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21Swear 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.”
22David swore to Saul. Saul went 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