1 Samuel 24:9

9 And David saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?

1 Samuel 24:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:9

And David said to Saul, wherefore hearest thou men's words,
&c.] The false charges and accusations, that some of Saul's courtiers brought against David, as Doeg the Edomite, and such like sycophants and flatterers, to whom Saul hearkened, and believed what they said, and acted upon it. David chose rather to lay the blame on Saul's courtiers than on himself; and he began with him in this way, the rather to reconcile him to him, and cause him to listen to what he had to say: and represents them as saying
to him, behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
seeks to take away thy life, and seize upon thy crown and throne; than which nothing was more foreign from him.

1 Samuel 24:9 In-Context

7 And David subdueth his men by words, and hath not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul hath risen from the cave, and goeth on the way;

8 and David riseth afterwards, and goeth out from the cave, and calleth after Saul, saying, `My lord, O king!' And Saul looketh attentively behind him, and David boweth -- face to the earth -- and doth obeisance.

9 And David saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?

10 Lo, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and [one] said to slay thee, and [mine eye] hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he [is].

11 `And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul to take it!