1 Samuel 24:13

13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm 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 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

12 “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.

13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.

14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?

15 May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”