1 Samuel 24:3-4

3 He came to the sheepfolds * on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul ¹went in to relieve * himself. Now ²David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

4 The men of David said to him, "Behold, ³this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; ⁴I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.' " Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly.

1 Samuel 24:3-4 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. Judges 3:24
• 2. Psalms 57: title; Psalms 142: title
• 3. 1 Samuel 23:17; 1 Samuel 25:28-30
• 4. 1 Samuel 26:8, 11

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "cover his feet"
• [b]. Lit "in your sight"