1 Samuel 24:7

7 With these words David persuaded^[a] his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

1 Samuel 24:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:7

So David stayed his servants with these words
Or pacified them, as the Targum, and made them quiet and easy in that he had not slain him, and reconciled their minds to his conduct, and restrained them from laying hands on him, by observing to them, that he was the anointed of the Lord: and suffered them not to rise against Saul; to take away his life;
he not only argued with them, but laid his commands on them that they should not slay him: but Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way;
he rose from his sleep, and went out of the cave unhurt, and proceeded on in the way he came to the sheepcotes, and which led on further, ( 1 Samuel 24:3 ) .

1 Samuel 24:7 In-Context

5 Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

6 He said to his men, "I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed. [I will never] lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord's anointed."

7 With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage.

9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you'?

Footnotes

• [a]. Or restrained