1 Samuel 24:21

21 So swear to me by ADONAI that you will not kill my descendants after I die or blot out my name from my father's family."

1 Samuel 24:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:21

Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord
By the Word of the Lord, as the, Targum:

that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me;
as was usually done in despotic governments in the eastern countries, and is at this day, when one is advanced to the throne of another, by whom issue is left, who may be rivals and competitors with him:

and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house;
by cutting off his seed, the same thing in different words repeated, for the confirmation of it; children bear the names of their fathers, and by them their memory is perpetuated, and cutting off them is destroying the name of their parents.

1 Samuel 24:21 In-Context

19 A man finds his enemy and lets him go unharmed?! May ADONAI reward you well for what you did to me today.

20 Now I'm certain that you will indeed become king, and that the kingship of Isra'el will be established in your hands.

21 So swear to me by ADONAI that you will not kill my descendants after I die or blot out my name from my father's family."

22 David swore to Sha'ul, and Sha'ul went home, but David and his men went back up to the stronghold.