1 Samuel 24:16-22

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "1Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17 2He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for 3you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.
18 "You have declared today that you have done good to me, that 4the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me.
19 "For if a man 5finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely *? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.
20 "Now, behold, 6I know that you will surely be king, and that 7the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21 "So now 8swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's household."
22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to 9the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:16-22 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 9

  • 1. 1 Samuel 26:17
  • 2. 1 Samuel 26:21
  • 3. Matthew 5:44
  • 4. 1 Samuel 26:23
  • 5. 1 Samuel 23:17
  • 6. 1 Samuel 23:17
  • 7. 1 Samuel 13:14
  • 8. Genesis 21:23; 1 Samuel 20:14-17; 2 Samuel 21:6-8
  • 9. 1 Samuel 23:29

Footnotes 2

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