1 Samuel 24:14

14 "What does the king of Israel think he's doing? Who do you think you're chasing? A dead dog? A flea?

1 Samuel 24:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:14

After whom is the king of Israel come out?
&c.] From his court and palace, with an army of men, and at the head of them: after whom dost thou pursue?
with such eagerness and fury: after a dead dog;
as David was in the opinion, and according to the representation of his enemies, a dog, vile, mean, worthless, of no account; a dead dog, whose name was made to stink through the calumnies cast upon him; and if a dead dog, then as he was an useless person, and could do no good, so neither could he do any hurt, not so much as bark, much less bite; and therefore it was unworthy of so great a prince, a lessening, a degrading of himself, as well as a vain and impertinent thing, to pursue after such an one, that was not worthy of his notice, and could do him neither good nor harm: after a flea?
a little contemptible animal, not easily caught, as it is observed by some, and when caught good for nothing. David, by this simile, fitly represents not only his weakness and impotence, his being worthless, and of no account, and beneath the notice of such a prince as Saul; but the circumstances he was in, being obliged to move from place to place, as a flea leaps from one place to another, and is not easily taken, and when it is, of no worth and value; signifying, that as it was not worth his pains to seek after him, so it would be to no purpose, he should not be able to take him.

1 Samuel 24:14 In-Context

12 Let's decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine.
13 An old proverb says, 'Evil deeds come from evil people.' So be assured that my hand won't touch you.
14 "What does the king of Israel think he's doing? Who do you think you're chasing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 God is our judge. He'll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now - and set me free of you!"
16 When David had finished saying all this, Saul said, "Can this be the voice of my son David?" and he wept in loud sobs.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.