1 Samuel 26:23

23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn't willing to lift my hand against the Lord's anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.^[a]

1 Samuel 26:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:23

The Lord render to every man his righteousness, and his
faithfulness
Or recompense every man that deals justly and faithfully with others, as he had done with Saul; or the Lord, who is just and faithful to his promises, reward the men that act the good and upright part; and this was a prayer of faith; for David doubted not that, though Saul might fail, yet God could not;

for the Lord delivered thee into [my] hand this day;
or, "into an hand"

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 into the hand of Abishai, who had it in his power to slay him, when he went and took the spear that was at his bolster, and would have done it, but David suffered him not:

but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed;
nor suffer another to stretch forth his hand against him; so careful and tender was he of his life.

F24 (dyb) "in manum", Pagninus, Montanus.

1 Samuel 26:23 In-Context

21 Saul responded, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I've committed a grave error."

22 David answered, "Here is the king's spear; have one of the young men come over and get it.

23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn't willing to lift my hand against the Lord's anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.

24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble."

25 Saul said to him, "You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail." Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 24:10-12; 26:10-11