1 Samuel 24:19

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 24:19

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:16-22

Tenderness transitory and truth suppressed. The facts are— 1 . Saul, subdued by the magnanimity of David, weeps and admits his own wrong in contrast with David's kindness. 2 . Acknowledging his belief that David is to be king, he pleads with him to be merciful to his seed. 3 . David, granting the request, returns to his stronghold, and Saul to his home. Good actions soon begin to authenticate their Divine mission in the world. The noble self-vindication from the calumnies of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:19

Will he let him go well away? Hebrew, "will he let him go on a good way?" i.e. will he let him go on his way in peace, unhurt? As David, nevertheless, had let his enemy go unharmed, Saul, touched momentarily by his generosity, prays that Jehovah will reward him for what he had done. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 24:17-19

1 Samuel 24:17-19. Thou art more righteous than I He ingenuously acknowledges David’s integrity and his own iniquity. If a man find his enemy, will he let him go? That is, he will certainly destroy him to save himself. Thy behaviour, therefore, shows that thou hast no enmity to me. Wherefore the Lord reward thee good Because he thought himself not able to recompense so great a favour, he prays God to recompense it. 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 24:19

if . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 24:19

1 Samuel 24:19. For if a man find his enemy— For if a man, finding his enemy, lets him go well away, the Lord will reward him: wherefore the Lord reward thee for that which thou hast done unto me this day. Houb. 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

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