1 Samuel 24:13

13 Just as the ancient proverb says, 'From the wicked, wickedness goes out,' but my hand will not be against you!

1 Samuel 24:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:13

As saith the proverb of the ancients
It is an old saying, has been long in use, and may be applied to the present case; or the "proverb of the ancient one"; of the oldest man, the first man Adam, and of all others after him, so Kimchi; or of the Ancient One of the world, the Ancient of days, the Lord himself; so in the Talmud ^F4: wickedness proceedeth from the wicked;
as is a man, so are his actions; if he is a wicked man, he will do wicked things; a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruits, an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things; and as if David should say, if I had been the wicked man as I am represented, I should have committed wickedness; I should have made no conscience of taking away thy life when it was in my power; but my heart would not suffer me to do it: but,
or "and" my hand shall not be upon thee;
as it has not been upon thee, because of the fear of God in me, so neither shall it be hereafter: or the sense of the proverb may be, the wickedness that comes from a wicked man, that will kill him, or be the cause of his ruin, or he will be slain by wicked men such as himself; and this may be thy case, O king, unless thou repentest: but be that as it may, which I leave with the righteous Judge, this I am determined on, "mine hand shall not be upon thee"; to take away thy life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 10. 2.

1 Samuel 24:13 In-Context

11 Now, my father, see, yes, see, the hem of your robe in my hand! For {when I cut} the hem of your robe I did not kill you. Know and {realize} that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I did not sin against you, but you [are] hunting down my life to take it.

12 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you!

13 Just as the ancient proverb says, 'From the wicked, wickedness goes out,' but my hand will not be against you!

14 After whom did the king of Israel go out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea?

15 May Yahweh be [the] judge, and let him judge between me and you, and may he see and plead my case. {May he vindicate me against you}!"