1 Samuel 24:21

21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill my descendants and that you won't wipe out my name from 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 If a person finds his enemy, he doesn't just send him on his way, does he? May the Lord reward you because you were good to me today.
20 I know you will surely be king, and you will rule the kingdom of Israel.
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill my descendants and that you won't wipe out my name from my father's family."
22 So David made the promise to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to their hideout.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.