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1 Samuel 24:5-15

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5 Afterwards, David's conscience bothered[a] him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.[b]
6 He said to his men, "I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed. [I will never] lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord's anointed."[c]
7 With these words David persuaded[d] his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage.
9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you'?
10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. [Someone] advised [me] to kill you, but I[e] took pity on you and said: I won't lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord's anointed.
11 See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12 "May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.[f]
13 As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.'[g] My hand will never be against you.
14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea?[h]
15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver[i] me from you."
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1 Samuel 24:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 24

Saul being returned from following the Philistines, renews his pursuit after David, 1Sa 24:1,2; and they meeting in a cave, where David had the opportunity of taking away the life of Saul, which his men pressed him to, yet only cut off the skirt of his robe, 1Sa 24:3-8; which, calling after him, he held up to him to convince him he had his life in his hands, but spared it, 1Sa 24:9,10; upon which he very pathetically reasons with him about the unreasonableness and unrighteousness of his pursuit after him, to take away his life, 1Sa 24:11-15; which so affected Saul, that he confessed he was more righteous than he, and owned that the kingdom would be his, and only desired him to swear to him not to cut off his offspring, which David did, and so they parted, 1Sa 24:16-22.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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Footnotes 9

  • [a] Lit David's heart struck
  • [b] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss omit robe
  • [c] 1 Sm 10:1; 26:9-11
  • [d] Or restrained
  • [e] Or my eye
  • [f] 1 Sm 26:10-11,23
  • [g] Mt 7:16-20; Lk 6:43-45
  • [h] 1 Sm 26:20; 2 Sm 9:8
  • [i] Lit render a verdict for
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

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