1 Samuel 24 - Introduction
XXIV. (1 Samuel 24:1) THE PURSUIT OF DAVID RENEWEd — David Spares Saul’s Life in the En-gedi Cave — David’s Generosity — Saul for a time Regrets his Persecution of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
XXIV. (1 Samuel 24:1) THE PURSUIT OF DAVID RENEWEd — David Spares Saul’s Life in the En-gedi Cave — David’s Generosity — Saul for a time Regrets his Persecution of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SAUL WAS RETURNED. — How intent Saul was on his bloody purpose with regard to his supposed rival is clear, for no sooner was the Philistine raid repulsed than with sleepless animosity he at once set forth with a force, as the next verse relates, of considerable magnitude to hunt down his foe. S... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE THOUSAND CHOSEN MEN. — This large and carefully selected force is an indication how thoroughly impressed Saul was with the power of David at this juncture. He, indeed, evidently looked on him as a rival king, who must be met by a numerous and disciplined force. UPON THE ROCKS OF THE WILD GOAT... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHEEPCOTES. — Thomson (_The Land and the Book_) saw, he says, hundreds of these sheepcotes around the mouth of the caves, of which there are so many in Palestine. In that land and among these Eastern peoples, whose customs change so little, they are as common now as they were then. “These sheepc... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE DAY OF WHICH THE LORD SAID UNTO THEE. — This was the version by David’s men of such predictions as 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 16:12. Jonathan’s words (1 Samuel 20:15; 1 Samuel 23:17) show clearly that these predictions were known; and the version of them here given was a very... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID’S HEART SMOTE HIM. — Not for what he had done to Saul, but his conscience smote him for the momentary thought that had stained his soul of slaying the Lord’s Anointed. This is better than with Clericus to say, “David was afraid that Saul would take this, though a clear sign of his [David’s] ma... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CRIED AFTER SAUL. — The outlaw suffered the king and his companion to proceed some little way — possibly down the deep ascent which led up to the cave’s mouth — and then called after Saul, but with an address of the deepest reverence, accompanied too (see next clause) with an act of the profound... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE HEAREST THOU MEN’S WORDS? — David had many deadly enemies at the court of Saul, who evidently laboured with success to deepen Saul’s jealousy, and to widen the breach which already existed between the king and David. Doeg has been already mentioned as one of the more prominent of these sla... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE EYES HAVE SEEN. — David and a crowd of armed men around him were standing at the entrance of the cave which King Saul had just left; thus the king’s eye had seen — nay, was seeing that very moment — that his life had been in his enemy David’s hand. AND SOME BADE ME KILL THEE. — The literal tra... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FATHER. — Not in the sense of “my father-in-law.” The Princess Michal before this time probably had been given to Phalti. The _time_ when this wicked act was carried out by Saul is left quite indefinite in the notice of 1 Samuel 25:44_;_ but the relations of David and Saul were evidently far more... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROVERB OF THE ANCIENTS. — Clericus, quoted by Lange, explains these words: “David means to say, that if he had been guilty of conspiracy against the king, he would not have neglected this favourable opportunity to kill him, since men usually indulge their feelings, and from a mind guilty of con... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A DEAD DOG, AFTER A FLEA. — These homely but vivid similes are very common in Oriental discourse. David certainly, in his protestations of loyalty, could scarcely humble himself more than by drawing a comparison between the king of Israel in his grandeur and power and a poor dead dog — evident... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD THEREFORE BE JUDGE, AND JUDGE BETWEEN ME AND THEE, AND SEE, AND PLEAD MY CAUSE, AND DELIVER ME OUT OF THINE HAND. — Shall I lay these hands on the Lord’s Anointed? God forbid. No; I will not do it for a kingdom. Such wicked feats I leave for wicked men to act. God can and will in His own du... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WORDS. — L. Philippson (in the Israelitish Bible, Leipzig) sums up strikingly the general effect of David’s moving but natural words to Saul. “This appeal possesses so much natural eloquence, such warmth, such true earnestness, that no one who has any love for the simple beauties of the Bible... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, BEHOLD, I KNOW WELL THAT THOU SHALT SURELY BE KING. — Clericus (in _Lange_) says: “From this great magnanimity of David, Saul concluded that a man who was much superior in soul to kings could not but reign.” This is a good comment, and doubtless expresses something of what was in Saul’s min... [ Continue Reading ]
SWEAR NOW THEREFORE UNTO ME. — So strongly was Saul convinced at this moment that David would at no distant period of time occupy the throne of Israel that he entreated him, when that day should come, not to destroy all his (Saul’s) children. This barbarous custom has been always too common a practi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SWARE UNTO SAUL. — The generous son of Jesse at once complied with Saul’s curious request, and for a time, at least, the persecution and pursuit of David ceased. Stricken with remorse, the gloomy king left him to himself; no word, however, seems to have passed as to restoring the exile to... [ Continue Reading ]