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 Engedi.
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 sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
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 skirt of Saul's robe privily.
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 anointed of the LORD.
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.
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 spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'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.
12 The LORD judge 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, Wickedness 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.
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 showed 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.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that 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 sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
1 And it came to pass, when Saul H7586 was returned H7725 from following H310 the Philistines, H6430 that it was told H5046 him, saying, H559 Behold, David H1732 is in the wilderness H4057 of Engedi. H5872
2 Then Saul H7586 took H3947 three H7969 thousand H505 chosen H977 men H376 out of all Israel, H3478 and went H3212 to seek H1245 David H1732 and his men H582 upon H6440 the rocks H6697 of the wild goats. H3277
3 And he came H935 to the sheepcotes H1448 H6629 by the way, H1870 where was a cave; H4631 and Saul H7586 went in H935 to cover H5526 his feet: H7272 and David H1732 and his men H582 remained H3427 in the sides H3411 of the cave. H4631
4 And the men H582 of David H1732 said H559 unto him, Behold the day H3117 of which the LORD H3068 said H559 unto thee, Behold, I will deliver H5414 thine enemy H341 into thine hand, H3027 that thou mayest do H6213 to him as it shall seem good H3190 unto thee. H5869 Then David H1732 arose, H6965 and cut off H3772 the skirt H3671 of Saul's H7586 robe H4598 privily. H3909
5 And it came to pass afterward, H310 that David's H1732 heart H3820 smote H5221 him, because he had cut off H3772 Saul's H7586 skirt. H3671
6 And he said H559 unto his men, H582 The LORD H3068 forbid H2486 that I should do H6213 this thing H1697 unto my master, H113 the LORD'S H3068 anointed, H4899 to stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against him, seeing he is the anointed H4899 of the LORD. H3068
7 So David H1732 stayed H8156 his servants H582 with these words, H1697 and suffered H5414 them not to rise H6965 against Saul. H7586 But Saul H7586 rose up H6965 out of the cave, H4631 and went H3212 on his way. H1870
8 David H1732 also arose H6965 afterward, and went out H3318 of the cave, H4631 and cried H7121 after H310 Saul, H7586 saying, H559 My lord H113 the king. H4428 And when Saul H7586 looked H5027 behind H310 him, David H1732 stooped H6915 with his face H639 to the earth, H776 and bowed H7812 himself.
9 And David H1732 said H559 to Saul, H7586 Wherefore hearest H8085 thou men's H120 words, H1697 saying, H559 Behold, David H1732 seeketh H1245 thy hurt? H7451
10 Behold, this day H3117 thine eyes H5869 have seen H7200 how that the LORD H3068 had delivered H5414 thee to day H3117 into mine hand H3027 in the cave: H4631 and some bade H559 me kill H2026 thee: but mine eye spared H2347 thee; and I said, H559 I will not put forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against my lord; H113 for he is the LORD'S H3068 anointed. H4899
11 Moreover, my father, H1 see, H7200 yea, see H7200 the skirt H3671 of thy robe H4598 in my hand: H3027 for in that I cut off H3772 the skirt H3671 of thy robe, H4598 and killed H2026 thee not, know H3045 thou and see H7200 that there is neither evil H7451 nor transgression H6588 in mine hand, H3027 and I have not sinned H2398 against thee; yet thou huntest H6658 my soul H5315 to take H3947 it.
12 The LORD H3068 judge H8199 between me and thee, and the LORD H3068 avenge H5358 me of thee: but mine hand H3027 shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith H559 the proverb H4912 of the ancients, H6931 Wickedness H7562 proceedeth H3318 from the wicked: H7563 but mine hand H3027 shall not be upon thee.
14 After H310 whom is the king H4428 of Israel H3478 come out? H3318 after H310 whom dost thou pursue? H7291 after H310 a dead H4191 dog, H3611 after H310 a H259 flea. H6550
15 The LORD H3068 therefore be judge, H1781 and judge H8199 between me and thee, and see, H7200 and plead H7378 my cause, H7379 and deliver H8199 me out of thine hand. H3027
16 And it came to pass, when David H1732 had made an end H3615 of speaking H1696 these words H1697 unto Saul, H7586 that Saul H7586 said, H559 Is this thy voice, H6963 my son H1121 David? H1732 And Saul H7586 lifted up H5375 his voice, H6963 and wept. H1058
17 And he said H559 to David, H1732 Thou art more righteous H6662 than I: for thou hast rewarded H1580 me good, H2896 whereas I have rewarded H1580 thee evil. H7451
18 And thou hast shewed H5046 this day H3117 how that thou hast dealt H6213 well H2896 with me: forasmuch as when the LORD H3068 had delivered H5462 me into thine hand, H3027 thou killedst H2026 me not.
19 For if a man H376 find H4672 his enemy, H341 will he let him go H7971 well H2896 away? H1870 wherefore the LORD H3068 reward H7999 thee good H2896 for that thou hast done H6213 unto me this day. H3117
20 And now, behold, I know well H3045 that thou shalt surely H4427 be king, H4427 and that the kingdom H4467 of Israel H3478 shall be established H6965 in thine hand. H3027
21 Swear H7650 now therefore unto me by the LORD, H3068 that thou wilt not H518 cut off H3772 my seed H2233 after H310 me, and that thou wilt not destroy H8045 my name H8034 out of my father's H1 house. H1004
22 And David H1732 sware H7650 unto Saul. H7586 And Saul H7586 went H3212 home; H1004 but David H1732 and his men H582 gat them up H5927 unto the hold. H4686
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 sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
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, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Jehovah's anointed.
7 So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And 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 bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but `mine eye' spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah'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 my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.
12 Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my 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 Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy 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 rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.
18 And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, 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 stronghold.
1 And it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, `Lo, David `is' in the wilderness of En-gedi.'
2 And Saul taketh three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goeth to seek David and his men, on the front of the rocks of the wild goats,
3 and he cometh in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there `is' a cave, and Saul goeth in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding.
4 And the men of David say unto him, `Lo, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Lo, I am giving thine enemy into thy hand, and thou hast done to him as it is good in thine eyes;' and David riseth and cutteth off the skirt of the upper robe which `is' on Saul -- gently.
5 And it cometh to pass afterwards that the heart of David smiteth him, because that he hath cut off the skirt which `is' on Saul,
6 and he saith to his men, `Far be it from me, by Jehovah; I do not do this thing to my lord -- to the anointed of Jehovah -- to put forth my hand against him, for the anointed of Jehovah he `is'.'
7 And David subdueth his men by words, and hath not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul hath risen from the cave, and goeth on the way;
8 and David riseth afterwards, and goeth out from the cave, and calleth after Saul, saying, `My lord, O king!' And Saul looketh attentively behind him, and David boweth -- face to the earth -- and doth obeisance.
9 And David saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?
10 Lo, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and `one' said to slay thee, and `mine eye' hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he `is'.
11 `And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul to take it!
12 `Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;
13 as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.
14 `After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? -- after a dead dog! after one flea!
15 And Jehovah hath been for judge, and hath judged between me and thee, yea, he seeth and pleadeth my cause, and doth deliver me out of thy hand.'
16 And it cometh to pass, when David completeth to speak these words unto Saul, that Saul saith, `Is this thy voice, my son David?' and Saul lifteth up his voice, and weepeth.
17 And he saith unto David, `More righteous thou `art' than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee evil;
18 and thou hast declared to-day how that thou hast done good with me, how that Jehovah shut me up into thy hand, and thou didst not slay me,
19 and that a man doth find his enemy, and hath sent him away in a good manner; and Jehovah doth repay thee good for that which thou didst to me this day.
20 `And, now, lo, I have known that thou dost certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel hath stood in thy hand;
21 and, now, swear to me by Jehovah -- thou dost not cut off my seed after me, nor dost thou destroy my name from the house of my father.'
22 And David sweareth to Saul, and Saul goeth unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.
1 And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2 And Saul took three thousand men, chosen 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 sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.
4 And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
5 And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
7 And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
8 David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
11 And see, my father, yes, 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 and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.
12 Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my 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 single flea.
15 Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice [in delivering me] out of thy hand.
16 And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, 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 shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day.
20 And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, 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 to Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
1 It happened, 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 on the rocks of the wild goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
5 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh's anointed.
7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. 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. When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 David said to Saul, Why listen you to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh 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 Yahweh'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 Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh 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 Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 Yahweh 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 Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.
1 And from there, David went up and took cover in the safe place of En-gedi.
2 Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
3 Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
4 And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
5 And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
6 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
7 And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
8 So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
9 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
10 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
11 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
12 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
13 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
14 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
15 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
16 So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
17 Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
18 And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
19 And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
20 If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
21 And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
22 So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 24
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Whilst Saul had gone against the Philistines, David left this dangerous place, and went to the mountain heights of Engedi , i.e., the present Ain-jidy (goat-fountain), in the middle of the western coats of the Dead Sea (see at Joshua 15:62), which he could reach from Maon in six or seven hours. The soil of the neighbourhood consists entirely of limestone; but the rocks contain a considerable admixture of chalk and flint. Round about there rise bare conical mountains, and even ridges of from two to four hundred feet in height, which mostly run down to the sea. The steep mountains are intersected by wadys running down in deep ravines to the sea. “On all sides the country is full of caverns, which might then serve as lurking-places for David and his men, as they do for outlaws at the present day” (Rob. Pal . p. 203)
1 Samuel 24:1-2
When Saul had returned from his march against the Philistines, and was informed of this, he set out thither with three thousand picked men to search for David and his men in the wild-goat rocks. The expression “ rocks of the wild goats ” is probably not a proper name for some particular rocks, but a general term applied to the rocks of that locality on account of the number of wild goats and chamois that were to be found in all that region, as mountain goats are still (Rob. Pal . ii. p. 204).
1 Samuel 24:3
When Saul came to the sheep-folds by the way, where there was a cave, he entered it to cover his feet, whilst David and his men sat behind in the cave. V. de Velde ( R . ii. p. 74) supposes the place, where the sheep-folds by the roadside were, to have been the Wady Chareitun , on the south-west of the Frank mountain, and to the north-east of Tekoah, a very desolate and inaccessible valley. “Rocky, precipitous walls, which rise up one above another for many hundred feet, form the sides of this defile. Stone upon stone, and cliff above cliff, without any sign of being habitable, or of being capable of affording even a halting-place to anything but wild goats.” Near the ruins of the village of Chareitun , hardly five minutes' walk to the east, there is a large cave or chamber in the rock, with a very narrow entrance entirely concealed by stones, and with many side vaults in which the deepest darkness reigns, at least to any one who has just entered the limestone vaults from the dazzling light of day. It may be argued in favour of the conjecture that this is the cave which Saul entered, and at the back of which David and his men were concealed, that this cave is on the road from Bethlehem to Ain-jidy, and one of the largest caves in that district, if not the largest of all, and that, according to Pococke ( Beschr. des Morgenl . ii. p. 61), the Franks call it a labyrinth, the Arabs Elmaama , i.e., hiding-place, whilst the latter relate how at one time thirty thousand people hid themselves in it “to escape an evil wind,” in all probability the simoom. The only difficulty connected with this supposition is the distance from Ain-jidy, namely about four or five German miles (fifteen or twenty English), and the nearness of Tekoah, according to which it belongs to the desert of Tekoah rather than to that of Engedi. “ To cover his feet ” is a euphemism according to most of the ancient versions, as in Judges 3:24, for performing the necessities of nature, as it is a custom in the East to cover the feet. It does not mean “to sleep,” as it is rendered in this passage in the Peschito , and also by Michaelis and others; for although what follows may seem to favour this, there is apparently no reason why any such euphemistic expression should have been chosen for sleep. “ The sides of the cave :” i.e., the outermost or farthest sides.
1 Samuel 24:4
Then David's men said to him, “ See, this is the day of which Jehovah hath said to thee, Behold, I give thine enemy into thy hand, and do to him what seemeth good to thee .” Although these words might refer to some divine oracle which David had received through a prophet, Gad for example, what follows clearly shows that David had received no such oracle; and the meaning of his men was simply this, “Behold, to-day is the day when God is saying to thee:” that is to say, the speakers regarded the leadings of providence by which Saul had been brought into David's power as a divine intimation to David himself to take this opportunity of slaying his deadly enemy, and called this intimation a word of Jehovah. David then rose, up, and cut off the edge of Saul's cloak privily. Saul had probably laid the meil on one side, which rendered it possible for David to cut off a piece of it unobserved.
1 Samuel 24:5
But his heart smote him after he had done it; i.e., his conscience reproached him, because he regarded this as an injury done to the king himself.
1 Samuel 24:6
With all the greater firmness, therefore, did he repel the suggestions of his men: “ Far be it to me from Jehovah (on Jehovah's account: see at Joshua 22:29), that ( אם , a particle denoting an oath) I should do such a thing to my lord, the anointed of Jehovah, to stretch out my hand against him .” These words of David show clearly enough that no word of Jehovah had come to him to do as he liked with Saul.
1 Samuel 24:7
Thus he kept back his people with words ( שׁסּע , verbis dilacere ), and did not allow them to rise up against Saul, sc., to slay him.
But when Saul had gone out of the cave, David went out, and called, “ My lord king ,” that when the king looked round he might expostulate with him, with the deepest reverence, but yet with earnest words, that should sharpen his conscience as to the unfounded nature of his suspicion and the injustice of his persecution. “ Why dost thou hearken to words of men, who say, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have been that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave, and they said ( אמר , thought) to kill thee, and I spared thee :” lit . it (mine eye) spared thee (cf. Genesis 45:20; Deuteronomy 7:16, etc., which show that עיני is to be supplied).
To confirm what he said, he then showed him the lappet of his coat which he had cut off, and said, “ My father, see .” In these words there is an expression of the childlike reverence and affection which David cherished towards the anointed of the Lord. “ For that I cut off the lappet and did not kill thee, learn and see (from this) that (there is) not evil in my hand (i.e., that I do not go about for the purpose of injury and crime), and that I have not sinned against thee, as thou nevertheless layest wait for my soul to destroy it .”
After he had proved to the king in this conclusive manner that he had no reason whatever for seeking his life, he invoked the Lord as judge between him and his adversary: “ Jehovah will avenge me upon thee, but my hand will not be against thee. As the proverb of the ancients ( הקּדמוני is used collectively) says, Evil proceedeth from the evil, but my hand shall not be upon thee .” The meaning is this: Only a wicked man could wish to avenge himself; I do not.
And even if he should wish to attack the king, he did not possess the power. This thought introduces 1 Samuel 24:14 : “ After whom is the king of Israel gone out? After whom dost thou pursue? A dead dog, a single flea .” By these similes David meant to describe himself as a perfectly harmless and insignificant man, of whom Saul had no occasion to be afraid, and whom the king of Israel ought to think it beneath his dignity to pursue. A dead dog cannot bite or hurt, and is an object about which a king ought not to trouble himself (cf. 2 Samuel 9:8 and 2 Samuel 16:9, where the idea of something contemptible is included). The point of comparison with a flea is the insignificance of such an animal (cf. 1 Samuel 26:20).
As Saul had therefore no good ground for persecuting David, the latter could very calmly commit his cause to the Lord God, that He might decide it as judge, and deliver him out of the hand of Saul: “ Let Him look at it, and conduct my cause ,” etc.
These words made an impression upon Saul. David's conduct went to his heart, so that he wept aloud, and confessed to him: “ Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast shown me good, and I (have shown) thee evil; and thou hast given me a proof of this to-day .”
“ If a man meet with his enemy, will he send him (let him go) in peace? ” This sentence is to be regarded as a question, which requires a negative reply, and expresses the thought: When a man meets with an enemy, he does not generally let him escape without injury. But thou hast acted very differently towards me. This thought is easily supplied from the context, and what follows attaches itself to this: “ The Lord repay thee good for what thou hast done to me this day .”
This wish was expressed in perfect sincerity. David's behaviour towards him had conquered for the moment the evil demon of his heart, and completely altered his feelings. In this better state of mind he felt impelled even to give utterance to these words, “ I know that thou wilt be king, and the sovereignty will have perpetuity in thy hand .” Saul could not prevent this conviction from forcing itself upon him, after his own rejection and the failure of all that he attempted against David; and it was this which drove him to persecute David whenever the evil spirit had the upper hand in his soul. But now that better feelings had arisen in his mind, he uttered it without envy, and merely asked David to promise on oath that he would not cut off his descendants after his death, and seek to exterminate his name from his father's house. A name is exterminated when the whole of the descendants are destroyed, - a thing of frequent occurrence in the East in connection with a change of dynasties, and one which occurred again and again even in the kingdom of the ten tribes (vid., 1 Kings 15:28., 1 Samuel 16:11.; 2 Kings 10).
When David had sworn this, Saul returned home. But David remained upon the mountain heights, because he did not regard the passing change in Saul's feelings as likely to continue. המּצוּדה (translated “ the hold ”) is used here to denote the mountainous part of the desert of Judah. It is different in 1 Samuel 22:5.