Chapter Twenty-Four
Saul Pursues David to Engedi but David Spares Saul’s Life
24:1 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “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 in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.
Saul was informed that David was hiding in the wilderness of En Gedi, a location with steep precipices and rushing water from several fresh water streams that empty into the Dead Sea, but presents few escape options. So Saul selects three thousand men and went to En Gedi in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks (other translations include: Rocks of Wild Goats, rocks of the mountain goats, Crags of the Wild Goats, etc., most consider the reference to be a name of a location). The area is well known for its caves, caverns, waterfalls, fountains, and the home of many mountain goats, even today.
24:3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Saul and his men came by some sheepfolds on the road near a cave (sheepfolds are typically a pen made of rocks with a gate and were often near caves to provide shelter for the sheep) and stopped so that Saul could relieve himself in the cave. But this was the same cave where David and his men were sitting further inside, again, no coincidence. David’s men tell him that they believe that the day of which YHWH told him, “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you,” There is no record of God saying this or similar to David, but his men see this as an opportunity that only God could have arranged, which is true, but not in the manner they are promoting. David gets up and without being noticed cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe.
This action of David’s doesn’t sound like much of an issue in our ears, but there is a lot more to this action than simply cutting a portion of a robe to show that David was close enough to kill Saul.
This act was far from meaningless because David’s confiscation of a portion of the royal robe signified the transfer of power from the house of Saul to the house of David. Furthermore, by removing the corner of the robe, David made Saul’s robe to be in a state of noncompliance with Torah requirements (cf. Num 15:38–39; Deut 22:12); thus, Saul’s most obvious symbol of kingship was made unwearable. In essence, David had symbolically invalidated Saul’s claim to kingship.[1]
24:5 And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
His action troubled David, as “his heart struck him,” he regretted what he had done. He then told his men that he would not kill Saul and that he should not have cut off part of his robe, since he is YHWH’s anointed, to go against him is wrong seeing that he is YHWH’s anointed. With those words David persuaded his men to not take any action against Saul, who then exits the cave.
We read twice that David calls Saul, YHWH’s anointed (the LORD’s anointed), why was that significant? David understood that it was important to wait on YHWH, he knew that God promised him that he would be king, as he too was anointed as YHWH’s choice. Even though Saul had been pursuing David and wanted him dead, that didn’t enter the equation for David, that didn’t matter, however, serving and obeying God did!
There was something very unusual going on here. David understood that the kingdom, which would certainly be his one day, was not for him to take by his own power. The kingdom had been given to Saul by God (in this sense “he is the LORD’s anointed”), and it was up to God to take it from him, in his own time and in his own way. This was not politics as we know it. It was a power struggle, but different from the power struggles with which we are familiar. From David’s side there was a determined refusal in this matter to “wage war according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3). The kingdom could only properly come to him as God’s gift.
This was clearly very important to David. The ESV of verse 7 is a little mild: “So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul” (v. 7a). Literally the text says that David tore his men apart with his words. They were utterly and completely wrong to think this was an ordinary conflict between men. With remarkable insight, David saw that “no one takes this honor for himself” (cf. Hebrews 5:4, which is about the priesthood, but the principle can be applied to David’s situation).
The opportunity to bring the conflict with Saul to an end by ordinary means passed: “And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way” (v. 7b).[2]
24:8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.
David emerges from the same cave Saul just came out of and calls Saul his lord and king. He then bowed before him and paid homage (Hebrew yiš·tā’·ḥû, to bow down, to prostrate oneself).
24:9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
David asks Saul why does he listen to those that say that he wants to do harm to him? He then explains what just happened in the cave. He had the opportunity to kill him, as his men were trying to persuade him to do, but he did not, for he would not harm him for he is YHWH’s anointed. Then he shows Saul the proof, the corner of his robe that he had cut off. He was close enough to cut a piece off his robe, but did not kill him, so he would know that he was not guilty of any wrong doing or treason, that he had not sinned against Saul, even though he has been hunting him down.
24:12 May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15 May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”
David then calls on YHWH to judge between them, and to take vengeance on Saul, but he will not raise a hand against him himself. He quotes a proverb that was likely familiar at that time, “Out of the wicked comes wickedness,”pointing that he is not wicked, and therefore will not rebel or commit murder, the saying can also imply an intrinsic wickedness in Saul if he chooses to take advantage of this situation. David asks, what is the king after? A dead dog? A single flea? Hardly worth the effort! He is essentially saying there has got to be more pressing matters that requires the king’s attention and time! David concludes by again calling on YHWH to judge, this time asking to judge which one is right, and punish the guilty one, as He is his advocate, and he will rescue him from Saul.
24:16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
Saul responded to David, acknowledging that he was more righteous than him, and that David has always been good to him and he has repaid him with evil. And now even after YHWH gave him an opportunity to kill him, he would not. He notes that when a person finds an enemy, that they usually don’t let them get away unharmed. He finally recognized that David was different and capitulates saying, “Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.” (1 Samuel 24:19, NLT) He also could see that David would be king of Israel and that it will prosper under his rule..
24:21 Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Understanding historically whenever a change in a royal family took place (when a new king took reign unrelated to the last king) that the males of the old dynasty would be killed to prevent any future claims to the throne, Saul asks David to swear that he would not kill his offspring, that the name of his father’s house could continue. David agreed and swore to Saul that he wouldn’t destroy his name. Afterwards Saul went back to Gibeah and David and his men went back into hiding.
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[1] Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 239). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Woodhouse, J. (2008). 1 Samuel: Looking for a leader (p. 465). Crossway Books.