David Spares Saul’s Life

24:1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, “Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.” 

 

Saul was using all of Israel’s resources to find and kill David. His spies reported to Saul that David was hiding in the desert of En Gedi.

 

24:2 So Saul took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats. 

 

Saul took 3,000 of his best soldiers to find and kill David. David was hiding in a rocky region that was full of mountain goats.

 

24:3 He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave. 

 

Saul had to use the bathroom. He just happened to choose the cave in which David and his men were hiding.

 

24:4 David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.’” So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

 

Saul could have easily been captured and killed. The threat on David’s life would be over. David would become King of Israel. All he had to do was kill Saul, and his problems would be over. Instead, David just cut off an edge of Saul’s robe. Saul’s robe was most likely laying on the ground while Saul was using the bathroom.

 

24:5 Afterward David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe. 

 

Most pagans would have killed Saul, became king, celebrated, and their conscience would have never bothered them. David was full of divine viewpoint, so his conscience bothered him.

 

24:6 He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the Lord’s chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the Lord’s chosen one.” 

 

Samuel anointed Saul as King of Israel. David did not think that it was his responsibility to snuff out the life of an anointed King. God chose Samuel to become King. It was God’s responsibility to remove him. 

 

Many pastors use this verse as a warning to their congregation that they are “the Lord’s anointed,” so nobody better not mess with them. This verse is not a modern bible doctrine of the church. Modern doctrine for the church is found in Paul’s letters. This historical incident was recorded by a prophet of God to teach others to learn from this example. Charismatics like to pick and choose Old Testament historical incidents and make them charismatic doctrines. This is dangerous, because it leads one to add to Scripture.  

 

24:7 David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road.

 

David did not allow his men to slay Saul, although they wanted to kill Saul and end the war.

 

24:8 Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, “My lord, O king!” When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. 

 

David waited until Saul left the cave. Then David treated Saul with the utmost respect. David acknowledged that Saul was his lord, or master. He also acknowledged that Saul was his king. David was claiming his loyalty to Saul. David even bowed down and addressed him as a king. David did this in front of all of Saul’s troops, or at least in front of his personal body guards.

 

24:9 David said to Saul, “Why do you pay attention when men say, ‘David is seeking to do you harm’? 

 

David proved to Saul that he was not seeking to harm Saul. He had his opportunity and passed it up. David could have been king, but he was not willing to harm Saul.

 

24:10 Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you – this very day – into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ 

 

The soldiers wanted Saul dead, but David refused to kill an anointed king.

 

24:11 Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. 

 

David called Saul “my father," reminding Saul that David was his son-in-law. The cut-off robe was evidence that Saul could have been killed, if David had not shown him mercy.

 

24:12 May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you. 

 

Jehovah is the judge of all men, including kings. David asked Jehovah to judge who was righteous and who was unrighteousness. 

 

24:13 It’s like the old proverb says: ‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you. 

 

David was not evil. He did not want to kill Saul, although Saul wanted to kill David. David was also an anointed king, so Saul’s attempt to murder an anointed king of God was evil in the sight of God.

 

24:14 Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? 

 

David was more than a dead dog or a single flea. He was an anointed king. He was immortal until he fulfilled his purpose as king.

 

24:15 May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!”

 

David asked Jehovah to judge their case and determine who is righteous and who is evil.

 

24:16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept loudly. 

 

Saul recognized the voice of David and began to cry.

 

24:17 He said to David, “You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! 

 

Saul admitted that David was the righteous one and Saul was the unrighteous one.

 

24:18 You have explained today how you have treated me well. The Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. 

 

Saul recognized that Jehovah delivered Saul to David to be killed, but David refused to do it. This was a test for David. The entire angelic world and all future bible students will learn why David was “a man after God’s own heart."

 

24:19 Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the Lord repay you with good this day for what you have done to me. 

 

Saul found his enemy, but not in the way that he expected. Because of the circumstances, Saul was going to send David away in peace. He asked that Jehovah repay David for the grace that he showed Saul on that day. 

 

24:20 Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 

 

Saul acknowledged that David would be the next king. Saul could not stop this from happening.

 

24:21 So now swear to me in the Lord’s name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.”

 

Usually, pagan kings would exterminate the lines of their rivals. Saul asked David to spare his family.

 

24:22 David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.

 

David promised Saul that he would not exterminate his family line. Saul went back to Gibeah. David went back to his caves in the wilderness.