1 Samuel 24

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1 Samuel 24

1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

15 The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 3

<html>The rocky land of the wild goats. The rocks of the wild goats.</html>

Verse 4

<html>To relieve himself. To defecate.¹Maseches Yevamos 103a states that the term ‘לְהָסֵךְ אֶת דַגְלָיו’ is a euphamistic expression. Because of his extreme modesty, Shaul covered himself like a succah [Maseches Berachos 62b], with his clothing. The word לְהָסֵךְ originates from סִכוּדְ, which means covered.—Radak.</html>

Verse 6

<html>Afterwards … etc.</html>

Verse 7

<html>He said to his men, “[Adonoy] forbid.” These two verses are not written in sequence;²According to Radak, these verses are written in chronological sequence, and this conversation took place after Dovid returned to his men with the cut piece of Shaul’s robe. but since he began to speak regarding the cutting of the robe, he finished everything concerning it, and he said that he even regretted cutting the robe. Afterwards, he returns to the first subject, and says that regarding his men's comments, “Behold, concerning this day, etc.” He replied to them, 'May Adonoy forbid that, etc.'</html>

Verse 8

<html>Dovid pacified. He separated and held them off with these words.³The literal meaning of וַיְשַׁסַּע is ‘he divided or split’ as in Shoftim 14:6. By being tactful in speaking to his men, Dovid divided their unanimous opinion of wanting to attack Shaul.—Metzudos</html>

Verse 10

<html>Why do you listen. Why do you accept Do'eg's slander concerning me?⁴Rashi states that Dovid was alluding to Do’eg because Dovid said ‘why do you listen to the man [אָדָם]’, in the singular, referring to one individual person.</html>

Verse 11

<html>Someone said to kill you, but I had mercy on you. There are two words missing here, “and one who spoke [הָאוֹמֵר] said that I should kill you, but my soul [נַפְשִׁי] had pity on you, similar to “and King Dovid longed to go forth to Avshalom,”⁵II Shmuel 13:39. [meaning,] and Dovid's soul [נֶפֶשׁ] longed.</html>

Verse 12

<html>My father, indeed see. Meaning, pay attention to the matter, and also see the evidence, for the corner of your robe is in my hand, and I could have killed you.⁶As easily as having cut off the corner of your robe.</html>

Verse 14

<html>As the ancient proverb says. The proverb of the Ancient One of the world⁷It may also mean ‘old proverb’ or it may refer to a ‘Kadmonite proverb,’ a nation mentioned in Bereishis 15:19. [referring to] the Torah, which is the proverb of the Holy One, Blessed is He.⁸And accordingly הַקַּדְמֹנִי means ‘The Ancient One’ referring to ה׳ Himself. From the wicked comes wickedness.⁹So let it not come from me even if you deserve it.—Radak. The Holy One, Blessed is He, destines the wicked to fall into the hand of the wicked like himself. And where did the Torah say this, “And God destined it into his hand,”¹⁰Shemos 21:13. as it is stated in Maseches Makos.¹¹</html>

Verse 21

<html>I know that you will surely reign. For I see that the Holy One, Blessed is He, saves you from my hand. The Midrash Aggadah states, that Shmuel gave him this sign, that the one who tears his robe will reign after him.¹²See above 15:27–28.</html>

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Table of Contents

1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 3

Verse 4

Verse 6

Verse 7

Verse 8

Verse 10

Verse 11

Verse 12

Verse 14

Verse 21