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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:9-15

We have here David's warm and pathetic speech to Saul, wherein he endeavours to convince him that he did him a great deal of wrong in persecuting him thus and to persuade him therefore to be reconciled. I. He calls him father (1 Sam. 24:11), for he was not only, as king, the father of his country, but he was, in particular, his father-in-law. From a father one may expect compassion and a favourable opinion. For a prince to seek the ruin of any of his good subjects is as unnatural as for a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:9

And David said to Saul, wherefore hearest thou men's words ,.... The false charges and accusations, that some of Saul's courtiers brought against David, as Doeg the Edomite, and such like sycophants and flatterers, to whom Saul hearkened, and believed what they said, and acted upon it. David chose rather to lay the blame on Saul's courtiers than on himself; and he began with him in this way, the rather to reconcile him to him, and cause him to listen to what he had to say: and represents... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:8-15

Discrimination in relation to men, truth, and vocation. The facts are— 1 . David follows Saul out of the cave and pays him homage. 2 . He remonstrates against Saul heeding the lies of slanderers, and declares to him how he had just spared his life. 3 . Exhibiting the skirt of the robe in evidence of his words, and appealing to God, he protests his innocence of purpose. 4 . He, while admitting his own insignificance, commends his cause to the justice of God, and prays for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:9-10

In his address David complained of Saul's listening to men's words, which slanderously represented him as lying in wait to kill the king. In answer to their calumnies he now pleads Saul's own experience of his deeds. Some bade me kill thee. Hebrew, "he bade to kill thee." The literal rendering is, "Jehovah delivered thee today into my hand, and bade kill thee." The A.V. supplies some, or, more exactly, " one said." This is supported by the Syriac and Chaldee, but the literal rendering... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 24:9

David was quite aware that there were flatterers at Saul’s court who were continually inflaming the King’s mind by their false accusations against him. This explains the language of many of the Psalms, e. g. Psalms 10:0; Psalms 11:1-7; Psalms 12:1-8; Psalms 35:0; and many more. 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 24:9

men's . Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . evil. Hebrew. ra`a`. App-44 . transgression. Hebrew. pasha`. App-44 . sinned. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 . soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . 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

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