1 Samuel 24:21

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.

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 (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.