History · Chapter 24 of 31

1 Samuel 24

In the wilderness of En-gedi, Saul enters the very cave where David and his men are hiding. David's men urge him to kill his enemy, but David only cuts a corner of Saul's robe, and even that pricks his conscience. He refuses to harm the LORD's anointed. Calling out to Saul, he proves his innocence; Saul weeps, admits David is more righteous, and acknowledges he will be king.

What happens in 1 Samuel 24

Returning from fighting the Philistines, Saul takes three thousand men to hunt David near En-gedi. He enters a cave to relieve himself, unaware that David and his men are hidden in its depths. David's men say the LORD has delivered his enemy into his hand, but David creeps up and secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's robe, and afterward his heart smites him. He refuses to stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed and restrains his men.

After Saul leaves, David calls out, bowing, and shows the robe's corner as proof he could have killed him but did not. He appeals to the LORD to judge between them, insisting there is no evil in his hand. Saul weeps, calls David his son, confesses David is more righteous than he, admits David will surely be king, and asks him to swear not to cut off his descendants. David swears, and Saul goes home, while David returns to his stronghold.

1 Samuel 24 in context

This is the first of two occasions when David spares Saul's life, a defining demonstration of his character during the wilderness years. En-gedi is an oasis of caves near the Dead Sea. The chapter crystallizes the book's contrast: Saul, rejected, hunts the innocent; David, God's anointed, refuses to seize the throne by violence, trusting God to establish him in His time.

David's reverence for the LORD's anointed, even his enemy, models entrusting justice to God rather than taking vengeance.

Main themes of 1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24 (KJV)

1And 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. 2Then 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. 3And 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. 4And 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. 5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6And 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. 7So 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. 8David 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. 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, 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. 11Moreover, 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. 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. 16And 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. 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18And 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. 19For 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. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear 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. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

Verses to carry from 1 Samuel 24

“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.”1 Samuel 24:6

“The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”1 Samuel 24:12

“And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.”1 Samuel 24:17

Reflection

With his enemy at his mercy, David refused vengeance and entrusted his cause to God, his conscience tender even over a torn robe. When you could repay wrong, will you wait for God to judge? Christ, reviled, did not revile back but committed Himself to the Father and forgave.

A prayer from 1 Samuel 24