1 Samuel 24:21

21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe 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 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?May the Lord repay you with good for what you've done for me today.
20 "Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family."
22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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