1 Samuel 24:21

21 But promise me in the Lord's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten."

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 How often does someone catch an enemy and then let him get away unharmed? The Lord bless you for what you have done to me today!
20 Now I am sure that you will be king of Israel and that the kingdom will continue under your rule.
21 But promise me in the Lord's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten."
22 David promised that he would. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went back to their hiding place.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.