1 Samuel 24:13-14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 24:14-15

1 Samuel 24:14-15. After whom is the king of Israel come out? David here employs every persuasive art to move Saul. He represents himself in as contemptible a light as possible; that he might convince Saul it was not for his honour to take so much pains to kill him, if he could do it. The Lord, therefore, be judge He thought he could not repeat this too often, that as he had done hitherto, so he still resolved hereafter, to leave it to God to judge which of them was in the right, and not... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:1-22

Saul’s fierce hunt (23:1-24:22)Since Abiathar had brought with him the high priest’s ephod (containing the Urim and Thummim), David was able to ask and receive God’s direct guidance. God’s first direction was to rescue the Israelite town of Keilah from the raiding Philistines (23:1-6). As soon as he had defeated the Philistines, David withdrew from Keilah. He knew that Saul’s army was larger and better equipped than his. He knew also that he could not trust the people of Keilah to stand with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 24:13

Wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. reed'. See App-44 . Compare "evil", 1 Samuel 24:11 . proceedeth . Figure of speech Paroemia. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 24:14

a dead dog , &c. Figure of speech Meiosis. App-6 . flea. Hebrew a single flea. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 24:13

1 Samuel 24:13. Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked— i.e. "Guilt is the consequence and fruit of guilt. If I had been guilty of conspiring against thee, I should have crowned my guilt by killing thee when it was in my power." read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 24:14

1 Samuel 24:14. After a dead dog? after a flea?— A dog was an object of the greatest contempt. The reason why this secondary idea was always associated with the name of this animal in the mind of a Jew, may be deduced from the Mosaic law, which was intended not only to preserve the idea of the unity of thy Deity, but as an invincible barrier to keep the Israelites separate from other nations, by opposing, as well as imitating, under certain corrections, their ritual ceremonies. The dog being... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 24:1-22

3. David’s goodness to two fools chs. 24-26". . . chapters 24-26 form a discrete literary unit within 1 Samuel. Chapters 24 and 26 are virtually mirror images of each other, beginning with Saul’s receiving a report about David’s latest hiding place (1 Samuel 24:1; 1 Samuel 26:1), focusing on David’s refusal to lift a hand against Saul, ’the Lord’s anointed’ (1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 24:10; 1 Samuel 26:11), and concluding with the words of a remorseful Saul and his returning home from his pursuit... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 24:8-15

David’s verbal defense to Saul 24:8-15The object lesson that David presented to Saul had a double application. David proved that he was not trying to kill Saul, because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. Furthermore he showed that it was inappropriate for Saul to seek to kill him because he, too, was the Lord’s anointed, as Saul now knew (1 Samuel 24:20). David modeled for Saul what the king’s dealings with him should have been."Our tendency is to say, ’Oh, just leave it alone. It’ll all work out.’... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:1-22

David spares Saul’s Life at EngediWe have a similar incident narrated in 1 Samuel 26, and some critics hold that the two are merely varying accounts of the same event. But it. is to be noticed that almost every detail that could vary, does vary. Nor is there any difficulty in supposing that David spared Saul’s life twice.2. Rocks of the wild goats] Some cliffs near Engedi, so called because wild goats congregated there. They are still numerous in this district. 3. Sheepcotes] These were rough,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 24:13

(13) The proverb of the ancients.—Clericus, quoted by Lange, explains these words: “David means to say, that if he had been guilty of conspiracy against the king, he would not have neglected this favourable opportunity to kill him, since men usually indulge their feelings, and from a mind guilty of conspiracy nothing but corresponding deeds could come forth.” So Grotius, who writes how “actions usually correspond to the quality of the mind.” Erdmann quotes a Greek proverb: “From a bad raven... read more

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