1 Samuel 24:10-20

10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.
12 The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13 As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.
14 After whom is the king of Yisra'el come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 The LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
16 It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Sha'ul, that Sha'ul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Sha'ul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil.
18 You have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn't kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
20 Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Yisra'el shall be established in your hand.

1 Samuel 24:10-20 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.