1 Samuel 24:7-17

7 So David persuaded his men with these words ¹and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king! ” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.

9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’?

10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. ²And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. ^[a] I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, ³for he is the Lord’s anointed. ’

11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that ⁴there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though ⁵you hunt my life to take it.

12 ⁶May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.

13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness. ’ But my hand shall not be against you.

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? ⁷After a dead dog! ⁸After a flea!

15 ⁹May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and ¹⁰plead my cause and deliver me from your hand. ”

16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ¹¹“Is this your voice, my son David? ” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, ¹²for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

1 Samuel 24:7-17 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.

Cross References

• 1. 24:7 [Ps. 7:4]
• 2. 24:10 ver. 4
• 3. 24:10 [See ver. 6 above]
• 4. 24:11 Ps. 7:3
• 5. 24:11 ch. 26:20
• 6. 24:12 Gen. 16:5; Judg. 11:27
• 7. 24:14 See ch. 17:43
• 8. 24:14 ch. 26:20
• 9. 24:15 [See ver. 12 above]
• 10. 24:15 ch. 25:39; Ps. 35:1; 43:1; 119:154
• 11. 24:16 ch. 26:17
• 12. 24:17 [ch. 26:21]

Footnotes

• [a] 24:10 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew 'it' [my eye] 'spared you'