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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 24
David finds Saul asleep in a cave and spares his life—Saul confesses
that David is more righteous than he—David swears that he will not cut
off the seed of Saul.
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1 AND it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the asheepcotes by
the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and
David and his men remained in the bsides of the cave.
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4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day
of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into
thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then
David arose, and cut off the askirt of Saul's robe
bprivily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I
should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth
mine hand against him, seeing he is the aanointed of
the LORD.
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7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
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9 ¶ And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that
the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some
bade me kill thee: but mine eye aspared thee;
and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is
the bLORD's anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
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12 The LORD ajudge between me and
thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients,
aWickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall
not be upon thee.
14 After whom is 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.
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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 agood, whereas
I have rewarded thee evil.
18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
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19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go
well away? wherefore the LORD areward thee good for that
thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou
shalt surely be kinga, and that the
kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
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20a I know well that thou shalt surely be
king Saul at this time recognizes that David will be the king of
Israel and that he can do nothing to stop that which is the mind and the will
of the Lord. Yet again later that evil spirit will rise up again in Saul and
Saul again will attempt to kill David. That is the folly of sin and the
fruitlessness of it, that though one knows that one will fail in it, one does
still persue and continue on in it.
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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 sware unto Saul. And Saul went home;
but David and his men gat them up unto the ahold.
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