1 Samuel 24 - Printer Friendly

In 1 Samuel 23, David and his men saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines. Saul heard about it, and God warned David that the townspeople would give him up to Saul (1 Samuel 23:11–12). David and his army relocated to the wilderness. Jonathan visited briefly to encourage David, who was soon betrayed by the locals (1 Samuel 23:19), and Saul and his army caught up. Saul had nearly captured David when he learned the Philistines were attacking again (1 Samuel 23:27–28), so he left David for another day.

David and his men are given up by local people yet again, and Saul brings 3000 men to capture his former servant, David. During the search, Saul goes to a cave to relieve his bowels. He is completely unaware that David and his men are hiding deeper in that very spot. David's men try to convince him that this is an opportunity from God: to kill the king and take the crown. David cuts off a part of Saul's robe, instead. This may have been merely an act of daring. Or, David may have planned to use the scrap exactly as he will in a few moments. Yet David feels guilty for even this minor act. He will not harm the Lord's anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1–7).

Saul leaves the cave, and David follows. Once Saul is a safe distance away, David makes his case. He had opportunity to kill Saul, but he didn't. He would never hurt or betray the king, no matter what Saul does to him. David is nothing compared to Saul although the Lord will judge David more righteous (1 Samuel 24:8–15).

Saul's response to David's words and the evidence that David could have killed him and did not is both humble and emotional. The king weeps and declares that David is more righteous than he is. He acknowledges that David repaid Saul's evil with good and that he has done the opposite. Saul prays that the Lord will reward David for not treating him like an enemy despite everything Saul has done to him (1 Samuel 24:16–19).

Finally, Saul admits that what he has apparently feared the most will indeed happen. David will become the established king over Israel. As his son Jonathan did when helping David, Saul asks David to swear not to kill his descendants when that day comes. David agrees, and Saul returns home with his army. David and his men remain at the stronghold at Engedi (1 Samuel 24:20–22).

This is one of several times David nearly fights Saul head-to-head, but he doesn't by God's grace. Next is the story of how David is kept from attacking Nabal the fool and his extensive network of servants. It's by the wisdom of Nabal's wife, Abigail, that David is kept from murder. God strikes Nabal down, and Abigail becomes David's wife (1 Samuel 25).

First Samuel 24:1–4 describes how David "harms" King Saul for the first and only time. Twice, David and his men have barely escaped Saul and his army (1 Samuel 23). Saul unknowingly enters the cave where David and his men are hiding. David's men want him to kill the king. David uses stealth to cut a piece from Saul's robe, instead. Even this, he immediately regrets as harm to God's anointed. After Saul leaves, David will confront him from a distance, reminding Saul of his loyalty. Saul will agree David is more righteous and return home (1 Samuel 24:5–22).

First Samuel 24:5–7 records David's regrets about his stealthy, undetected move against the King. David and his men were hiding in a cave when King Saul entered to relieve himself. The men saw a chance to kill Saul. Instead, David cuts off a corner of Saul's robe. Even so, David feels terrible remorse (1 Samuel 24:1–4). He follows Saul out of the cave and reminds the King of his loyal service, to the point of protecting the life of the man who wants him dead. Saul agrees he's been unfair to David. He gathers his army and goes home (1 Samuel 24:8–22).

First Samuel 24:8–15 is David's defense of his own innocence towards Saul. David swears to King Saul he will never harm him. David could have. Saul had entered the cave where David and his men were hiding. David's was able to get so close that he cut off a piece of Saul's clothes without being detected (1 Samuel 1–7). David pleads his case, that he would never hurt or betray the King: the corner of the robe proves it. Saul is chastised. He agrees that David is both righteous and extraordinarily loyal. He asks David to protect his family when he is king and returns to Gibeah (1 Samuel 24:16–22).

First Samuel 24:16–22 relates King Saul's momentary change of heart. He's been hunting David and at least twice has almost captured him (1 Samuel 23). At one point, Saul took a break to relieve himself in a cave. Walking back toward his army, David calls out to him. David was in the cave and could have killed him (1 Samuel 24:1–15). He shows the piece of cloth David cut from Saul's own robe—absolute proof that he could have slaughtered Saul easily. Saul is shamed by David's honor and righteousness and agrees to go home. Shortly after, Samuel, the last of the judges and mentor to both Saul and David, will die. All of Israel will mourn (1 Samuel 25:1).

God again protects David from fighting his earthly King. David has fled a city that would have betrayed him to Saul. He has run from the wilderness where the locals did, in fact, do so (1 Samuel 23). Yet again, nearby people warn Saul where David is. David has the chance to kill Saul, but refuses, and Saul admits David is more righteous than he. Next, Nabal the fool dishonors David, and David marches for revenge. Nabal's wife, Abigail, saves David from murdering her innocent servants, and Nabal dies of natural—or godly—causes. In return, David marries Abigail (1 Samuel 25). During these events, the prophet Samuel dies.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.