I Samuel 24:4
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So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
We have hitherto had Saul seeking an opportunity to destroy David, and, to his shame, he could never find it. In this chapter David had a fair opportunity to destroy Saul, and, to his honour, he did not make use of it; and his sparing Saul's life was as great an instance of God's grace in him as the preserving of his own life was of God's providence over him. Observe, I. How maliciously Saul sought David's life (Sa1 24:1, Sa1 24:2). II. How generously David saved Saul's life (when he had him at an advantage) and only cut off the skirt of his robe (Sa1 24:3-8). III. How pathetically he reasoned with Saul, upon this to bring him to a better temper towards him (Sa1 24:9-15). IV. The good impression this made upon Saul for the present (Sa1 24:16-22).
Open source ↗24:4 David’s men believed, as Saul did, that if the circumstances seem right, the Lord is telling you through those circumstances what to do (cp. 23:7). • Perhaps David was able to cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe without being apprehended because Saul had taken off the robe and laid it aside, or perhaps he fell asleep in the cave.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. For the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—