1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”

As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

(ESV)


1 Samuel 24 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

David retreats with his men to the caves of the Wilderness of En Gedi. This was a strategic move and a very good one on David’s part. The canyon of En Gedi is a “tropical paradise” in the middle of the desert. The canyon has lots of caves and vegetation so it was perfect for a defensive strategy. It also would have provided David the ability to see enemies coming a long way off.

Saul just so happens to go relieve himself in the cave David is hiding in! Coincidence? No way. Essentially, David has the chance to easily and quickly end Saul’s life. The man who has been trying to kill him, not to mention going completely against God’s ways, is standing point-blank in front of him without his guards nearby. And yet, even when tempted by his own men, David will not commit murder.

Instead, David cuts off the corner of Saul’s robe. We read that and think, no big deal, it’s just a piece of clothing. No. David probably cut Saul’s tzitzit. A tzitzit was a very important part of Jewish life. In the Bible, the tzitzit would have referred to the corner or “fringe” of the tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl. For a king, the tzitzit and tallit would have been a status symbol, so by cutting Saul’s off, God used this metaphor as a picture of how David had spiritually cut Saul off from his authority as king.

In fact, when Saul finds out what David has done, look at what he says to him.

“Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.  21  Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

1 Samuel 24:20-21 HCSB

Continuing with the theme of “cutting off,” Saul knows his days are numbered. He would have understood how this garment was an extension of an individual’s position and authority. Not only that, but David dealt mercifully with Saul, which indicated that David discerned the voice of God – something Saul refused to do.

In Psalm 37, David writes that a Kingdom-minded man does not take matters into his own hands. He waits and trusts the Lord.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.  9  For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

Psalms 37:8-9 ESV

These words would mirror Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he proclaimed the values of God’s Kingdom.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5 ESV

It’s extremely tempting to sin in order to fulfill a perfectly legitimate promise that we know God has placed in our hearts. However, as David shows here, it is always wrong. There are so many who would justify killing Saul in this position and probably be affirmed. It seems “right” in our minds. David would not take this shortcut. He had a radical and obedient faith in God’s timing and his plan.

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