1 Samuel 24

The latter part of 1 Samuel recounts David's life as a fugitive pursued by Saul, and chapter 24 is one episode in that account. At the end of the preceding chapter, 1 Samuel 23, Saul broke off his pursuit upon hearing of a Philistine invasion, and David took refuge in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Outline

• Verses 1–3 Returning from fighting the Philistines, Saul hears that David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. He takes three thousand chosen men and goes to the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He enters a cave by the wayside to relieve himself ("to cover his feet"), while David and his men are hiding in the innermost part of that very cave.
• Verses 4–7 David's men tell him that this is the day on which the LORD has delivered his enemy into his hand. David quietly cuts off only the skirt of Saul's robe, and even this troubles his conscience. He restrains his men, saying that he cannot strike the LORD's anointed.
• Verses 8–15 Coming out of the cave, David calls to Saul, bows before him, and shows him the piece of the robe he has cut off to demonstrate that he has no intention of harming him. Likening himself to "a dead dog" and "a flea," he leaves judgment to the LORD.
• Verses 16–22 Weeping, Saul acknowledges that David is more righteous than he and says that he knows David will become king. He then asks David to swear that he will not cut off Saul's descendants. After David swears the oath, Saul returns home and David goes back to the stronghold.

Key Verses

• 1 Samuel 24:6 "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him" — David explains why he will not seize the throne by his own hand.
• 1 Samuel 24:12 "But mine hand shall not be upon thee" — This reveals David's resolve to leave vengeance to God's judgment.
• 1 Samuel 24:20 "I know well that thou shalt surely be king" — Saul himself acknowledges David's future kingship.

Characters and Places

• David — A fugitive pursued by Saul. According to chapter 23, about six hundred men were following him.
• Saul — The first king of Israel, who pursues David in order to kill him.
• Philistines — Israel's enemy, against whom Saul fought just before the events of this chapter.
• En-gedi — A wilderness region with a spring on the western shore of the Dead Sea, known for its many caves.
• Rocks of the Wild Goats — A rocky area near En-gedi whose exact location is unknown.

Points for Reflection

• The word of the LORD that David's men cite in verse 4 does not appear verbatim in any earlier passage. Interpreters differ on whether it refers to an actual prophecy or is simply the men's own interpretation of the situation.
• The scene of cutting off the skirt of the robe is often read in connection with 1 Samuel 15:27–28. In that passage Saul tore the skirt of Samuel's mantle, and Samuel declared that the LORD had torn the kingdom from Saul.
• 1 Samuel 26 contains a similar account of David sparing Saul's life. Traditionally the two are read as separate events, while some critical scholars regard them as two versions of the same event.
• The oath in verse 21 is sometimes read in connection with the later account of David's care for Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9).
• The superscriptions of Psalms 57 and 142 set them at a time when David was "in the cave." Opinions differ as to whether this cave is the cave of Adullam (chapter 22) or the cave at En-gedi.
• In relation to the New Testament, the chapter is read alongside Luke 6:27–36, which speaks of love for enemies, and Romans 12:17–21, which instructs believers to leave vengeance to God.

In the Korean Church

In Sunday school the chapter is frequently taught as the story of "David, who spared his enemy." The words of verse 6, "do not strike the anointed one," are applied in some sermons as grounds for not criticizing pastors. Critics respond that the anointed one in the text refers to the king, so the verse cannot be applied directly to pastors.