1 Samuel 24:21

21 Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

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 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.

20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.

21 Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.