1 Samuel 24:16-22 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:16-22

I. Saul's penitent reply to David's speech. It was strange that he had patience to hear him out, considering how outrageous he was against him, and how cutting David's discourse was. But God restrained him and his men; and we may suppose Saul struck with amazement at the singularity of the event, and much more when he found how much he had lain at David's mercy. His heart must have been harder than a stone if this had not affected him. 1. He melted into tears, and we will not suppose them to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:16

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul ,.... And wonderful it is that Saul, so full of wrath and fury, and so eager of David's life, should stand still and hear him out, and not fall upon him; this must be owing to the restraining providence of God, and to the surprise Saul was in at the sight of David coming out of the cave, whom he expected not; and especially what awed and quieted him was the sight of the skirt of his robe in his hand, which was... read more

John Gill

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 24:16

My son David ? - David had called Saul his master, lord, and king. Saul accosts him here as his son, to show that he felt perfectly reconciled to him, and wished to receive him as formerly into his family. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:19

If a man find his enemy , will he let him go well away ? - Or rather, Will he send him in a good way? But Houbigant translates the whole clause thus: Si quis, inimicum suum reperiens, dimittit eum in viam bonam, redditur ei adomino sua merces ; "If a man, finding his enemy, send him by a good way, the Lord will give him his reward." The words which are here put in italic, are not in the Hebrew text, but they are found, at least in the sense, in the Septuagint,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:16-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:16

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 24:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 24:19

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