1 Samuel 24:17-22

17 He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
18 Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.
19 For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
20 Now I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father's house."
22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:17-22 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.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.