1 Samuel 24:9

9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'?

1 Samuel 24:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:9

And David said to Saul, wherefore hearest thou men's words,
&c.] The false charges and accusations, that some of Saul's courtiers brought against David, as Doeg the Edomite, and such like sycophants and flatterers, to whom Saul hearkened, and believed what they said, and acted upon it. David chose rather to lay the blame on Saul's courtiers than on himself; and he began with him in this way, the rather to reconcile him to him, and cause him to listen to what he had to say: and represents them as saying
to him, behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
seeks to take away thy life, and seize upon thy crown and throne; than which nothing was more foreign from him.

1 Samuel 24:9 In-Context

7 David said that to warn his men. He didn't allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.

9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'?

10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will never lift my hand to strike my master down. He is the LORD's anointed king.'

11 "Look, my father! Look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe. But I didn't kill you. I want you to know and understand that I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong. I haven't turned against you. I haven't done anything to harm you. But you are hunting me down. You want to kill me.