1 Samuel 24:9-22 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:17

And he said to David, thou art more righteous than I ,.... By which it appears he thought himself righteous, though David was more so; the righteousness of David was so glaring, that his enemy himself being judge acknowledges it, but will not confess his own wickedness, having no true sense of sin, nor real sorrow for it: for thou hast rewarded me good ; in times past, and now; heretofore in killing Goliath, fighting his battles for him against the Philistines, driving the evil spirit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:18

And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me ,.... The cutting off of the skirt of his robe only, when his life was in his hand, was a clear proof and full demonstration of his dealing well with him, and might sufficiently convince him he had no ill design upon him: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not ; this was a plain proof and evidence of his kindness to him, which he owns, and also the providence of God in this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:19

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away ?.... Or "in a good way" F5 בדרך טובה "in via bona", Pagninus, Montanus. , in peace and safety, without doing him any hurt; this is not usual among men, and yet this was the present case; David had found his enemy Saul, which Saul tacitly owns, and yet had let him go well away from him, without hurting him: wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day ; he does not promise to reward him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:20

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king ,.... Not merely by the common report, that he was anointed by Samuel, to which yet he might give credit; but by the providence of God prospering and preserving him, and by his princely spirit and behaviour, and by calling to mind what Samuel had said to him, that his kingdom should be given to a neighbour of his better than he, and so David was by his own confession, 1 Samuel 24:17 ; and the cutting off the skirt of his garment... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:21

Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord ,.... By the Word of the Lord, as the, Targum: that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me ; as was usually done in despotic governments in the eastern countries, and is at this day, when one is advanced to the throne of another, by whom issue is left, who may be rivals and competitors with him: and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house ; by cutting off his seed, the same thing in different words repeated, for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:22

And David sware unto Saul ,.... That he would not cut, off his posterity; which oath he religiously observed, in sparing Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 21:7 , and in punishing the murderers of Ishbosheth, 2 Samuel 4:12 ; and as for the seven sons of Saul, delivered up to the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21:6 , it may be questioned whether they were his genuine legitimate offspring; and if they were, it was by the appointment and command of God, and according to his will and pleasure they were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:12

The Lord judge between me and thee - Appeals of this kind to God are the common refuge of the poor and oppressed people. So also among the Hindoos: God will judge between us. Mother Kalee will judge. Sometimes this springs from a consciousness of innocence, and sometimes from a desire of revenge. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:13

Wickedness proceeded from the wicked - This proverb may be thus understood: He that does a wicked act, gives proof thereby that he is a wicked man. From him who is wicked, wickedness will proceed; he who is wicked will add one iniquity to another. Had I conspired to dethrone thee, I should have taken thy life when it was in my power, and thus added wickedness to wickedness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:14

After a dead dog - A term used among the Hebrews to signify the most sovereign contempt; see 2 Samuel 16:9 . One utterly incapable of making the least resistance against Saul, and the troops of Israel. The same idea is expressed in the term flea. The Targum properly expresses both thus: one who is weak, one who is contemptible. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:15

The Lord therefore be judge - Let God determine who is guilty. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:15

Group of Brands