1 Samuel 24:9-19

9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. 1And some told me to kill you, but I spared you.[a] I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, 2for he is the LORD's anointed.'
11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that 3there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though 4you hunt my life to take it.
12 5May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? 6After a dead dog! 7After a flea!
15 8May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and 9plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, 10"Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17 He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, 11for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

1 Samuel 24:9-19 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.

Cross References 11

  • 1. ver. 4
  • 2. [See ver. 6 above]
  • 3. Psalms 7:3
  • 4. 1 Samuel 26:20
  • 5. Genesis 16:5; Judges 11:27
  • 6. See 1 Samuel 17:43
  • 7. 1 Samuel 26:20
  • 8. [See ver. 12 above]
  • 9. 1 Samuel 25:39; Psalms 35:1; Psalms 43:1; Psalms 119:154
  • 10. 1 Samuel 26:17
  • 11. [1 Samuel 26:21]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew it [my eye] spared you
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.