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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:1 - 24:7
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Saul in the Cave
v. 1. And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, just as soon as he had repulsed the invaders, made them desist from their raid, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the Wilderness of Engedi, where the many caves in the limestone hills offered excellent places for concealment.
v. 2. Then Saul, still filled with the same bloodthirstiness which had brought him to the Wilderness of Maon, took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats, for, due to the wildness and steepness of the hills in this neighborhood, it was a favorite haunt of ibexes, or wild goats.
v. 3. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, a locality with large caves which had been fitted up to house sheep, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet, to do his easement; and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave, they were in the rear of the cave or in some of its side passages.
v. 4. And the men of David said unto him, for they could plainly see Saul, as they looked toward the light, while Saul's eyes could not penetrate the darkness in the rear, 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. Their reference seems to be only to what they considered a divine ordering of this favorable opportunity to take revenge upon Saul. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily, a corner of his upper garment, which Saul had evidently laid aside.
v. 5. And it came to pass afterward that David's heart smote him, his conscience bothered him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt, for since he regarded the person of Saul as sacred, he feared that Saul might consider his act a violation of his royal majesty.
v. 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. Saul still held the office and had the dignity of a king in Israel, and for that reason his person, in the eyes of David, was inviolable.
v. 7. So David stayed his servants with these words, literally, "rent to pieces, cut down," said of a solemn rebuke, and suffered them not to rise against Saul, for the purpose of taking bloody revenge upon the oppressor. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way. David's act was one of true magnanimity. Christians should always remember to leave vengeance to God, for He will requite in an adequate and just manner.