1 Samuel 24:15-22

15 ADONAI be the judge; let him decide between you and me. May he take my side and rescue me from your power!"

16 After David had finished speaking to Sha'ul, Sha'ul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Sha'ul cried out and wept;

17 and he said to David, "You are more righteous than I, because you have treated me well, while I have been treating you badly.

18 You have made it clear to me today that you have done me good; for when ADONAI put my fate in your hands, you didn't kill me.

19 A man finds his enemy and lets him go unharmed?! May ADONAI reward you well for what you did to me today.

20 Now I'm certain that you will indeed become king, and that the kingship of Isra'el will be established in your hands.

21 So swear to me by ADONAI that you will not kill my descendants after I die or blot out my name from my father's family."

22 David swore to Sha'ul, and Sha'ul went home, but David and his men went back up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:15-22 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.