1 Samuel 24:14-22

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea!

15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee; and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand."

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 And he said to David, "Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shown this day how thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killed me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? Therefore the LORD reward thee good for what thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house."

22 And David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men got themselves up unto the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:14-22 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.