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1 Samuel 24:6-16

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6 So he said to his men, "1Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed."
7 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
8 Now afterward * David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, 2David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'?
10 "3Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and 4some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.'
11 "Now, 5my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you 6are lying in wait for my life to take it.
12 "7May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, '8Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness '; but my hand shall not be against you.
14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? 9A dead dog, 10a single flea?
15 "11The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and 12plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "13Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
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1 Samuel 24:6-16 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

Cross References 13

  • 1. 1 Samuel 26:11
  • 2. 1 Samuel 25:23, 24; 1 Kings 1:31
  • 3. Psalms 7:3, 4
  • 4. 1 Samuel 24:4
  • 5. 2 Kings 5:13
  • 6. 1 Samuel 23:14, 23; 1 Samuel 26:20
  • 7. Genesis 16:5; Genesis 31:53; Judges 11:27; 1 Samuel 26:10, 23
  • 8. Matthew 7:16-20
  • 9. 2 Samuel 9:8
  • 10. 1 Samuel 26:20
  • 11. 1 Samuel 24:12
  • 12. Psalms 35:1; Psalms 43:1; Psalms 119:154; Micah 7:9
  • 13. 1 Samuel 26:17

Footnotes 7

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.