1 Samuel 24 Study Notes

24:1 The phrase returned from pursuing the Philistines probably means Saul pushed them back down into their territory and secured Israel’s border again.

24:2-3 Two Davidic psalms have as their setting this event when David hid in a cave. His true refuge was in the Lord (Ps 57:1; 142:5-6).

24:4 David cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. This proved he was so close that he could have killed the king.

24:5-7 David immediately regretted his action against the king. Saul was still his lord and was still the Lord’s anointed, although he had lost the presence of the Lord (16:14).

24:8-10 David encouraged the king to consider his action in sparing Saul’s life rather than relying on what others were saying about him.

24:11 With his words my father, David even appealed to his son-in-law relationship with Saul. He contrasted his own lack of crime or rebellion against the king with the king’s ruthless campaign against him.

24:12 David invited the Lord to judge Saul and once again pledged he would not retaliate against Saul.

24:13 To illustrate he was not wicked because he had spared Saul’s life when he could have killed him, David cited what was probably a well-known saying at the time—Wickedness comes from wicked people (cp. Pr 18:3).

24:14 By comparing himself to a dead dog or a single flea, David suggested that Saul was squandering precious manpower and resources. David was not worth going after since he was a loyal subject.

24:15 “In these words David moved his focus away from Saul to look to an authority high above the king” (Robert Bergen).

24:16-19 At David’s words, Saul wept aloud with tears of repentance, but his repentance would be short-lived (26:1-2).

24:20 Saul confessed full knowledge of God’s plan. Samuel had told him part of it earlier (13:14; 15:26-28), and Saul now realized that David would succeed him.

24:21 Saul asked David not to cut off his descendants or wipe out his name. Succeeding kings often did this to eliminate potential rivals or family reprisals (1Kg 15:29; 16:11).

24:22 David swore to Saul as the king had requested in an attempt to prove his loyalty yet again.