1 Samuel 24:17-22

17 (24-18) And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil.

18 (24-19) And thou hast shewed this day what good things thou hast done to me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand, and thou hast not killed me.

19 (24-20) For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day.

20 (24-21) And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand:

21 (24-22) Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.

22 (24-23) And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David and his men went up into safer places.

1 Samuel 24:17-22 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.