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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 24:10

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen ,.... Or may see; there is full proof and evidence of it, and which will be presently shown: how that the Lord had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave ; from whence they were both just come: and some bade me kill thee ; some of the men that were with David, some of his officers or principal friends put him upon it, having a fair opportunity, and thinking it no evil, since he was his enemy, and sought his life; or "it said, kill... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 24:10-12

1 Samuel 24:10-12. Mine eye spared thee A phrase signifying the taking pity on those whom we have it in our power to hurt. The eye is said to spare, because it affects the heart, and induces a person to spare. Moreover, my father Such he was through David’s marriage of his daughter. The Lord avenge me of thee Rather, will avenge me; that is, vindicate and deliver me from thy violent and unjust persecution. For he does not, in these words, pray God to punish Saul for the injuries he... 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

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 24:10

(10) Thine eyes have seen.—David and a crowd of armed men around him were standing at the entrance of the cave which King Saul had just left; thus the king’s eye had seen—nay, was seeing that very moment—that his life had been in his enemy David’s hand.And some bade me kill thee.—The literal translation here would be Jehovah delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave, and bade [me] kill thee. And this rendering has been explained by assuming that God’s allowing Saul to choose the very... read more

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