1 Samuel 24:21

21 Swear an oath to the LORD for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father's family."

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 When a person finds an enemy, does he send him away unharmed? The LORD will repay you completely for what you did for me today.

20 Now I know that you certainly will rule as king, and under your guidance the kingdom of Israel will prosper.

21 Swear an oath to the LORD for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father's family."

22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went home, and David and his men went to their fortified camp.