# 1 Samuel 24 đ: David Spares Saul's Life
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Spares Saulâs Life
[[#Verse 01.]] (24:2) When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, âLook, David is in the desert of En Gedi.âÂ
[[#Verse 02.]] So Saul took 3,000 select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â 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.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] Davidâs men said to him, âThis is the day about which the Lord said to you, âI will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.ââ So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saulâs robe.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Afterward Davidâs conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saulâs robe.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] He said to his men, âMay the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the Lordâs chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the Lordâs chosen one.â
[[#Verse 07.]] 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.
[[#Verse 08.]]Â Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, âMy lord, O king!â When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground.Â
[[#Verse 09.]]Â David said to Saul, âWhy do you pay attention when men say, âDavid is seeking to do you harmâ?Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered youâthis very dayâinto my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, âI will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lordâs chosen one.â
[[#Verse 11.]] Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didnât 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.Â
[[#Verse 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.Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â Itâs like the old proverb says: âFrom evil people evil proceeds.â But my hand will not be against you.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?Â
[[#Verse 15.]] May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands.â
[[#Verse 16.]]Â When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, âIs that your voice, my son David?â Then Saul wept loudly.
[[#Verse 17.]] He said to David, âYou are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] You have explained today how you have treated me well. The Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.Â
[[#Verse 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.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] So now swear to me in the Lordâs name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.â
[[#Verse 22.]] David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Saul took three thousand chosen men to search for David near the Rocks of the Wild Goats (24:2). Ibex still live around En-gedi today.
2. Shepherds in the region used caves and stone sheepfolds for their flocks (24:3).
3. The Hebrew phrase for Saul's reason for entering the cave is a polite way of saying he went to relieve himself (24:3).
4. David secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe (24:4). Earlier, Samuel's torn robe had pictured the kingdom torn from Saul (15:27-28).
5. David's conscience troubled him even for cutting the robe (24:5).
6. David repeatedly called Saul "the Lord's anointed" (24:6, 10).
7. David compared himself to a dead dog and a flea (24:14), saying he was no threat worth chasing.
8. Saul wept and admitted David was more righteous than he was (24:16-17).
9. Saul asked David to swear not to wipe out his descendants (24:21), the same promise Jonathan had asked for (20:14-15).
10. The heading of Psalm 57 connects that psalm to the time David fled from Saul into the cave.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King who refused to repay evil for evil. David spared Saul and left judgment to the Lord (24:10-12), and when Jesus was insulted He did not retaliate but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. David's men saw the cave as God's opportunity for revenge (24:4). How can we mistake an opportunity for permission?
2. David's conscience bothered him after he cut Saul's robe (24:5). Why is it important to listen to a sensitive conscience?
3. David let the Lord judge between him and Saul (24:12, 15). What would it look like for you to leave a hurt in God's hands?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 6: David will not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed.
- đ verse 12: May the Lord judge between us and avenge me, but my hand will not be against you.
- đ verse 17: Saul admits that David is more righteous than he is.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Psalm 57#Verse 01.|Psalm 57:1-3]] - Take refuge in the shadow of God's wings.
- đ [[Romans 12#Verse 17.|Romans 12:17-21]] - Do not repay evil for evil.
- đ [[Matthew 05#Verse 43.|Matthew 5:43-44]] - Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
- đ [[1 Samuel 26#Verse 09.|1 Samuel 26:9-11]] - David spares Saul a second time.
- đ [[1 Peter 02#Verse 21.|1 Peter 2:21-23]] - Christ left us an example of not retaliating.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[1 Samuel 24 - SOAP|Show Mercy Within Boundaries]]
## đ Internal Notes