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 (v. 1, 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 (v. 3-8). III. How pathetically he reasoned with Saul, upon
this to bring him to a better temper towards him (v. 9-15). IV. The good
impression this made upon Saul for the present (v. 16-22).
Here, I. Saul renews his pursuit of David, v. 1, 2. No sooner
had he come home safely from chasing the Philistines, in which it should seem he
had good success, than he enquired after David to do him a mischief, and
resolved to have another thrust at him, as if he had been delivered to do all
these abominations, Jer. 7:10. By the frequent incursions of the
Philistines, he might have seen how necessary it was to recall David from his
banishment and restore him to his place in the army again; but so far is he from
doing this that now more than ever he is exasperated against him, and, hearing
that he is in the wilderness of En-gedi, he draws out 3000 choice men,
and goes with them at his feet in pursuit of him upon the rocks of the wild
goats, where, one would think, David should not have been envied a
habitation nor Saul desirous of disturbing him; for what harm could he fear from
one who was no better accommodated? But it is not enough for Saul that David is
thus cooped up; he cannot be easy while he is alive.
II. Providence brings Saul alone into the same cave wherein
David and his men had hidden themselves, v. 3. In those countries there were
very large caves in the sides of the rocks or mountains, partly natural, but
probably much enlarged by art for the sheltering of sheep from the heat of the
sun; hence we read of places where the flocks did rest at noon (Cant. 1:7), and
this cave seems to be spoken of as one of the sheep-cotes. In the sides of this
cave David and his men remained, perhaps not all his men, the whole 600, but
only some few of his particular friends, the rest being disposed of in similar
retirements. Saul, passing by, turned in himself alone, not in search of David
(for, supposing him to be an aspiring ambitious man, he thought to find him
rather climbing with the wild goats upon the rocks than retiring with the sheep
into a cave), but thither he turned aside to cover his feet, that is, to
sleep awhile, it being a cool and quiet place, and very refreshing in the heat
of the day; probably he ordered his attendants to march before, reserving only a
very few to wait for him at the mouth of the cave. Some by the covering of the
feet understand the easing of nature, and think that this was Saul's errand
into the cave: but the former interpretation is more probable.
III. David's servants stir him up to kill Saul now that he has
so fair an opportunity to do it, v. 4. They reminded him that this was the day
which he had long looked for, and of which God had spoken to him in general when
he was anointed to the kingdom, which should put a period to his troubles and
open the passage to his advancement. Saul now lay at his mercy, and it was easy
to imagine how little mercy he would find with Saul and therefore what little
reason he had to show mercy to him. "By all means" (say his servants)
"give him the fatal blow now." See how apt we are to misunderstand, 1.
The promises of God. God had assured David that he would deliver him from Saul,
and his men interpret this as a warrant to destroy Saul. 2. The providences of
God. Because it was now in his power to kill him, they concluded he might
lawfully do it.
IV. David cut off the skirt of his robe, but soon
repented that he had done this: His heart smote him for it (v. 5); though
it did Saul no real hurt, and served David for a proof that it was in his power
to have killed him (v. 11), yet, because it was an affront to Saul's royal
dignity, he wished he had not done it. Note, It is a good thing to have a heart
within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is
awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins.
V. He reasons strongly both with himself and with his servants
against doing Saul any hurt. 1. He reasons with himself (v. 6): The Lord
forbid that I should do this thing. Note, Sin is a thing which it becomes us
to startle at, and to resist the temptations to, not only with resolution, but
with a holy indignation. He considered Saul now, not as his enemy, and the only
person that stood in the way of his preferment (for then he would be induced to
hearken to the temptation), but as God's anointed (that is, the person whom
God had appointed to reign as long as he lived, and who, as such, was under the
particular protection of the divine law), and as his master, to whom he was
obliged to be faithful. Let servants and subjects learn hence to be dutiful and
loyal, whatever hardships are put upon them, 1 Pt. 2:18. 2. He reasons with his
servants: He suffered them not to rise against Saul, v. 7. He would not
only not do this evil thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to
do it. Thus did he render good for evil to him from whom he had received evil
for good, and was herein both a type of Christ, who saved his persecutors, and
an example to all Christians not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil
with good.
VI. He followed Saul out of the cave, and, though he would not
take the opportunity to slay him, yet he wisely took the opportunity, if
possible, to slay his enmity, by convincing him that he was not such a man as he
took him for. 1. Even in showing his head now he testified that he had an
honourable opinion of Saul. He had too much reason to believe that, let him say
what he would, Saul would immediately be the death of him as soon as he saw him,
and yet he bravely lays aside that jealousy, and thinks Saul so much a man of
sense as to hear his reasoning when he had so much to say in his own vindication
and such fresh and sensible proofs to give of his own integrity. 2. His
behaviour was very respectful: He stooped with his face to the earth, and
bowed himself, giving honour to whom honour was due, and teaching us to
order ourselves lowly and reverently to all our superiors, even to those that
have been most injurious to us.
We have here David's warm and pathetic speech to Saul, wherein
he endeavours to convince him that he did him a great deal of wrong in
persecuting him thus and to persuade him therefore to be reconciled.
I. He calls him father (v. 11), for he was not only, as
king, the father of his country, but he was, in particular, his father-in-law.
From a father one may expect compassion and a favourable opinion. For a prince
to seek the ruin of any of his good subjects is as unnatural as for a father to
seek the ruin of his own children.
II. He lays the blame of his rage against him upon his evil
counsellors: Wherefore hearest thou men's words? v. 9. It is a piece of
respect due to crowned heads, if they do amiss, to charge it upon those about
them, who either advised them to it or should have advised them against it.
David had reason enough to think that Saul persecuted him purely from his own
envy and malice, yet he courteously supposes that others put him on to do it,
and made him believe that David was his enemy and sought his hurt. Satan, the
great accuser of the brethren, has his agents in all places, and particularly in
the courts of those princes that encourage them and give ear to them, who make
it their business to represent the people of God as enemies to Caesar and
hurtful to kings and provinces, that, being thus dressed up in bear-skins, they
may "be baited."
III. He solemnly protests his own innocence, and that he is far
from designing any hurt or mischief to Saul: "There is neither evil nor
transgression in my hand, v. 11. I am not chargeable with any crime, nor
conscious of any guilt, and, had I a window in my breast, thou mightest through
it see the sincerity of my heart in this protestation: I have not sinned
against thee (however I have sinned against God), yet thou huntest my
soul," that is, "my life." Perhaps it was about this time
that David penned the seventh psalm, concerning the affair of Cush the Benjamite
(that is, Saul, as some think), wherein he thus appeals to God (v. 3-5): If
there be iniquity in my hands, then let the enemy persecute my soul and take it,
putting in a parenthesis, with reference to the story of this chapter, Yea, I
have delivered him that without cause is my enemy.
IV. He produces undeniable evidence to prove the falsehood of
the suggestion upon which Saul's malice against him was grounded. David was
charged with seeking Saul's hurt: "See," says he, "yea,
see the skirt of thy robe, v. 11. Let this be a witness for me, and an
unexceptionable witness it is; had that been true of which I am accused, I
should now have had thy head in my hand and not the skirt of thy robe, for I
could as easily have cut off that as this." To corroborate this evidence he
shows him, 1. That God's providence had given him opportunity to do it: The
lord delivered thee, very surprisingly, to day into my hand, whence
many a one would have gathered an intimation that it was the will of God he
should now give the determining blow to him whose neck lay so fair for it. When
Saul had but a very small advantage against David he cried out, God has
delivered him into my hand (ch. 23:7), and resolved to make the best of that
advantage; but David did not so. 2. That his counsellors and those about him had
earnestly besought him to do it: Some bade me kill thee. He had blamed
Saul for hearkening to men's words and justly; "for," says he,
"if I had done so, thou wouldest not have been alive now." 3. That it
was upon a good principle that he refused to do it; not because Saul's
attendants were at hand, who, it may be, would have avenged his death; no, it
was not by the fear of them, but by the fear of God, that he was restrained from
it. "He is my lord, and the Lord's anointed, whom I ought to protect, and
to whom I owe faith and allegiance, and therefore I said, I will not touch a
hair of his head." Such a happy command he had of himself that his nature,
in the midst of the greatest provocation, was not suffered to rebel against his
principles.
V. He declares it to be his fixed resolution never to be his own
avenger: "The Lord avenge me of thee, that is, deliver me out of thy
hand; but, whatever comes of it, my hand shall not be upon thee" (v.
12), and again (v. 13), for saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness
proceedeth from the wicked. The wisdom of the ancients is transmitted to
posterity by their proverbial sayings. Many such we receive by tradition from
our fathers; and the counsels of common persons are very much directed by this,
"As the old saying is." Here is one that was in use in David's time:
Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, that is, 1. Men's own iniquity
will ruin them at last, so some understand it. Forward furious men will cut
their own throats with their own knives. Give them rope enough, and they will
hang themselves. In this sense it comes in very fitly as a reason why his
hand should not be upon him. 2. Bad men will do bad things; according as men's
principles and dispositions are, so will their actions be. This also agrees very
well with the connexion. If David had been a wicked man, as he was represented,
he would have done this wicked thing; but he durst not, because of the fear of
God. Or thus: Whatever injuries bad men do us (which we are not to wonder at; he
that lies among thorns must expect to be scratched), yet we must not return
them; never render railing for railing. Though wickedness proceed from the
wicked, yet let it not therefore proceed from us by way of retaliation.
Though the dog bark at the sheep, the sheep does not bark at the dog. See Isa.
32:6-8.
VI. He endeavours to convince Saul that as it was a bad thing,
so it was a mean thing, for him to give chase to such an inconsiderable person
as he was (v. 14): Whom does the king of Israel pursue with all this care
and force? A dead dog; a flea; one flea, so it is in the Hebrew. It is
below so great a king to enter the lists with one that is so unequal a match for
him, one of his own servants, bred a poor shepherd, now an exile, neither able
nor willing to make any resistance. To conquer him would not be to his honour,
to attempt it was his disparagement. If Saul would consult his own reputation,
he would slight such an enemy (supposing he were really his enemy) and would
think himself in no danger from him. David was so far from aspiring that he was,
in his own account, as a dead dog. Mephibosheth thus calls himself, 2 Sa. 9:8.
This humble language would have wrought upon Saul if he had had any spark of
generosity in him. Satis est prostrâsse leoni—Enough for the lion that he
has laid his victim low. What credit would it be to Saul to trample upon a
dead dog? What pleasure could it be to him to hunt a flea, a single flea, which
(as some have observed), if it be sought, is not easily found, if it be found,
is not easily caught, and, if it be caught, is a poor prize, especially for a
prince. Aquila non captat muscas—The eagle does not dart upon flies.
David thinks Saul had no more reason to fear him than to fear a flea-bite.
VII. He once and again appeals to God as the righteous Judge (v.
12 and v. 15): The Lord judge between me and thee. Note, The justice of
God is the refuge and comfort of oppressed innocence. If men wrong us, God will
right us, at furthest, in the judgment of the great day. With him David leaves
his cause, and so rests satisfied, waiting his time to appear for him.
I. Saul's penitent reply to David's speech. It was strange
that he had patience to hear him out, considering how outrageous he was against
him, and how cutting David's discourse was. But God restrained him and his
men; and we may suppose Saul struck with amazement at the singularity of the
event, and much more when he found how much he had lain at David's mercy. His
heart must have been harder than a stone if this had not affected him. 1. He
melted into tears, and we will not suppose them to have been counterfeit but
real expressions of his present concern at the sight of his own iniquity, so
plainly proved upon him. He speaks as one quite overcome with David's
kindness: Is this thy voice, my son David? And, as one that relented at
the thought of his own folly and ingratitude, he lifted up his voice and
wept, v. 16. Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them,
weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them. 2. He
ingenuously acknowledges David's integrity and his own iniquity (v. 17): Thou
art more righteous than I. Now God made good to David that word on which he
had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the
light, Ps. 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience may leave it
to God to secure them the credit of it. This fair confession was enough to prove
David innocent (even his enemy himself being judge), but not enough to prove
Saul himself a true penitent. He should have said, Thou are righteous, but I
am wicked; but the utmost he will own is this: Thou art more righteous
than I. Bad men will commonly go no further than this in their confessions;
they will own they are not so good as some others are; there are those that are
better than they, and more righteous. He now owns himself under a mistake
concerning David (v. 18): "Thou hast shown this day that thou art so
far from seeking my hurt that thou hast dealt well with me." We are
too apt to suspect others to be worse affected towards us then really they are,
and than perhaps they are proved to be; and when, afterwards, our mistake is
discovered, we should be forward to recall our suspicions, as Saul does here. 3.
He prays God to recompense David for this his generous kindness to him. He owns
that David's sparing him, when he had him in his power, was an uncommon and
unparalleled instance of tenderness to an enemy; no man would have done the
like; and therefore, either because he thought himself not able to give him a
full recompence for so great a favour, or because he found himself not inclined
to give him any recompence at all, he turns him over to God for his pay: The
Lord reward thee good, v. 19. Poor beggars can do no less than pray for
their benefactors, and Saul did no more. 4. He prophesies his advancement to the
throne (v. 20): I know well that thou shalt surely be king. He knew it
before, by the promise Samuel had made him of it compared with the excellent
spirit that appeared in David, which highly aggravated his sin and folly in
persecuting him as he did; he had as much reason to say concerning David as
David concerning him, How can I put forth my hand against the Lord's
anointed? But now he knew it by the interest he found David had in the
people, the special providence of God in protecting him, and the generous kingly
spirit he had now given a proof of in sparing his enemy. Now he knew it, that
is, now that he was in a good temper he was willing to own that he knew it and
to submit to the conviction of it. Note, Sooner or later, God will force even
those that are of the synagogue of Satan to know and own those that he has
loved, and to worship before their feet; for so is the promise, Rev. 3:9. This
acknowledgement which Saul made of David's incontestable title to the crown
was a great encouragement to David himself and a support to his faith and hope.
5. He binds David with an oath hereafter to show the same tenderness of his seed
and of his name as he had now shown of his person, v. 21. David had more reason
to oblige Saul by an oath that he would not destroy him, yet he insists not on
that (if the laws of justice and honour would not bind him, an oath would not),
but Saul knew David to be a conscientious man, and would think his interests
safe if he could get them secured by his oath. Saul by his disobedience had
ruined his own soul, and never took care by repentance to prevent that ruin, and
yet is very solicitous that his name might not be destroyed nor his seed cut
off. However, David swore unto him, v. 22. Though he might be tempted,
not only in revenge, but in prudence, to extirpate Saul's family, yet he binds
himself not to do it, knowing that God could and would establish the kingdom to
him and his, without the use of such bloody methods. This oath he afterwards
religiously observed; he supported Mephibosheth, and executed those as traitors
that slew Ishbosheth. The hanging up of seven of Saul's posterity, to atone
for the destruction of the Gibeonites, was God's appointment, not David's
act, and therefore not the violation of this oath.
II. Their parting in peace. 1. Saul, for the present, desisted
from the persecution. He went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his
envy of David, yet retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that,
when at last he had found David, he could not at that time find in his heart to
destroy him, as he had designed. God has many ways to tie the hands of
persecutors, when he does not turn their hearts. 2. David continued to shift for
his own safety. He knew Saul too well to trust him, and therefore got him up
into the hold. It is dangerous venturing upon the mercy of a reconciled
enemy. We read of those who believed in Christ, and yet he did not commit
himself to them because he knew all men. Those that like David are innocent
as doves must thus like him be wise as serpents.
1 Samuel 24 Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete)
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 (v. 1, 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 (v. 3-8). III. How pathetically he reasoned with Saul, upon this to bring him to a better temper towards him (v. 9-15). IV. The good impression this made upon Saul for the present (v. 16-22).
Verses 1-8
Here, I. Saul renews his pursuit of David, v. 1, 2. No sooner had he come home safely from chasing the Philistines, in which it should seem he had good success, than he enquired after David to do him a mischief, and resolved to have another thrust at him, as if he had been delivered to do all these abominations, Jer. 7:10. By the frequent incursions of the Philistines, he might have seen how necessary it was to recall David from his banishment and restore him to his place in the army again; but so far is he from doing this that now more than ever he is exasperated against him, and, hearing that he is in the wilderness of En-gedi, he draws out 3000 choice men, and goes with them at his feet in pursuit of him upon the rocks of the wild goats, where, one would think, David should not have been envied a habitation nor Saul desirous of disturbing him; for what harm could he fear from one who was no better accommodated? But it is not enough for Saul that David is thus cooped up; he cannot be easy while he is alive.
II. Providence brings Saul alone into the same cave wherein David and his men had hidden themselves, v. 3. In those countries there were very large caves in the sides of the rocks or mountains, partly natural, but probably much enlarged by art for the sheltering of sheep from the heat of the sun; hence we read of places where the flocks did rest at noon (Cant. 1:7), and this cave seems to be spoken of as one of the sheep-cotes. In the sides of this cave David and his men remained, perhaps not all his men, the whole 600, but only some few of his particular friends, the rest being disposed of in similar retirements. Saul, passing by, turned in himself alone, not in search of David (for, supposing him to be an aspiring ambitious man, he thought to find him rather climbing with the wild goats upon the rocks than retiring with the sheep into a cave), but thither he turned aside to cover his feet, that is, to sleep awhile, it being a cool and quiet place, and very refreshing in the heat of the day; probably he ordered his attendants to march before, reserving only a very few to wait for him at the mouth of the cave. Some by the covering of the feet understand the easing of nature, and think that this was Saul's errand into the cave: but the former interpretation is more probable.
III. David's servants stir him up to kill Saul now that he has so fair an opportunity to do it, v. 4. They reminded him that this was the day which he had long looked for, and of which God had spoken to him in general when he was anointed to the kingdom, which should put a period to his troubles and open the passage to his advancement. Saul now lay at his mercy, and it was easy to imagine how little mercy he would find with Saul and therefore what little reason he had to show mercy to him. "By all means" (say his servants) "give him the fatal blow now." See how apt we are to misunderstand, 1. The promises of God. God had assured David that he would deliver him from Saul, and his men interpret this as a warrant to destroy Saul. 2. The providences of God. Because it was now in his power to kill him, they concluded he might lawfully do it.
IV. David cut off the skirt of his robe, but soon repented that he had done this: His heart smote him for it (v. 5); though it did Saul no real hurt, and served David for a proof that it was in his power to have killed him (v. 11), yet, because it was an affront to Saul's royal dignity, he wished he had not done it. Note, It is a good thing to have a heart within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins.
V. He reasons strongly both with himself and with his servants against doing Saul any hurt. 1. He reasons with himself (v. 6): The Lord forbid that I should do this thing. Note, Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist the temptations to, not only with resolution, but with a holy indignation. He considered Saul now, not as his enemy, and the only person that stood in the way of his preferment (for then he would be induced to hearken to the temptation), but as God's anointed (that is, the person whom God had appointed to reign as long as he lived, and who, as such, was under the particular protection of the divine law), and as his master, to whom he was obliged to be faithful. Let servants and subjects learn hence to be dutiful and loyal, whatever hardships are put upon them, 1 Pt. 2:18. 2. He reasons with his servants: He suffered them not to rise against Saul, v. 7. He would not only not do this evil thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it. Thus did he render good for evil to him from whom he had received evil for good, and was herein both a type of Christ, who saved his persecutors, and an example to all Christians not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.
VI. He followed Saul out of the cave, and, though he would not take the opportunity to slay him, yet he wisely took the opportunity, if possible, to slay his enmity, by convincing him that he was not such a man as he took him for. 1. Even in showing his head now he testified that he had an honourable opinion of Saul. He had too much reason to believe that, let him say what he would, Saul would immediately be the death of him as soon as he saw him, and yet he bravely lays aside that jealousy, and thinks Saul so much a man of sense as to hear his reasoning when he had so much to say in his own vindication and such fresh and sensible proofs to give of his own integrity. 2. His behaviour was very respectful: He stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself, giving honour to whom honour was due, and teaching us to order ourselves lowly and reverently to all our superiors, even to those that have been most injurious to us.
Verses 9-15
We have here David's warm and pathetic speech to Saul, wherein he endeavours to convince him that he did him a great deal of wrong in persecuting him thus and to persuade him therefore to be reconciled.
I. He calls him father (v. 11), for he was not only, as king, the father of his country, but he was, in particular, his father-in-law. From a father one may expect compassion and a favourable opinion. For a prince to seek the ruin of any of his good subjects is as unnatural as for a father to seek the ruin of his own children.
II. He lays the blame of his rage against him upon his evil counsellors: Wherefore hearest thou men's words? v. 9. It is a piece of respect due to crowned heads, if they do amiss, to charge it upon those about them, who either advised them to it or should have advised them against it. David had reason enough to think that Saul persecuted him purely from his own envy and malice, yet he courteously supposes that others put him on to do it, and made him believe that David was his enemy and sought his hurt. Satan, the great accuser of the brethren, has his agents in all places, and particularly in the courts of those princes that encourage them and give ear to them, who make it their business to represent the people of God as enemies to Caesar and hurtful to kings and provinces, that, being thus dressed up in bear-skins, they may "be baited."
III. He solemnly protests his own innocence, and that he is far from designing any hurt or mischief to Saul: "There is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, v. 11. I am not chargeable with any crime, nor conscious of any guilt, and, had I a window in my breast, thou mightest through it see the sincerity of my heart in this protestation: I have not sinned against thee (however I have sinned against God), yet thou huntest my soul," that is, "my life." Perhaps it was about this time that David penned the seventh psalm, concerning the affair of Cush the Benjamite (that is, Saul, as some think), wherein he thus appeals to God (v. 3-5): If there be iniquity in my hands, then let the enemy persecute my soul and take it, putting in a parenthesis, with reference to the story of this chapter, Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy.
IV. He produces undeniable evidence to prove the falsehood of the suggestion upon which Saul's malice against him was grounded. David was charged with seeking Saul's hurt: "See," says he, "yea, see the skirt of thy robe, v. 11. Let this be a witness for me, and an unexceptionable witness it is; had that been true of which I am accused, I should now have had thy head in my hand and not the skirt of thy robe, for I could as easily have cut off that as this." To corroborate this evidence he shows him, 1. That God's providence had given him opportunity to do it: The lord delivered thee, very surprisingly, to day into my hand, whence many a one would have gathered an intimation that it was the will of God he should now give the determining blow to him whose neck lay so fair for it. When Saul had but a very small advantage against David he cried out, God has delivered him into my hand (ch. 23:7), and resolved to make the best of that advantage; but David did not so. 2. That his counsellors and those about him had earnestly besought him to do it: Some bade me kill thee. He had blamed Saul for hearkening to men's words and justly; "for," says he, "if I had done so, thou wouldest not have been alive now." 3. That it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it; not because Saul's attendants were at hand, who, it may be, would have avenged his death; no, it was not by the fear of them, but by the fear of God, that he was restrained from it. "He is my lord, and the Lord's anointed, whom I ought to protect, and to whom I owe faith and allegiance, and therefore I said, I will not touch a hair of his head." Such a happy command he had of himself that his nature, in the midst of the greatest provocation, was not suffered to rebel against his principles.
V. He declares it to be his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger: "The Lord avenge me of thee, that is, deliver me out of thy hand; but, whatever comes of it, my hand shall not be upon thee" (v. 12), and again (v. 13), for saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked. The wisdom of the ancients is transmitted to posterity by their proverbial sayings. Many such we receive by tradition from our fathers; and the counsels of common persons are very much directed by this, "As the old saying is." Here is one that was in use in David's time: Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, that is, 1. Men's own iniquity will ruin them at last, so some understand it. Forward furious men will cut their own throats with their own knives. Give them rope enough, and they will hang themselves. In this sense it comes in very fitly as a reason why his hand should not be upon him. 2. Bad men will do bad things; according as men's principles and dispositions are, so will their actions be. This also agrees very well with the connexion. If David had been a wicked man, as he was represented, he would have done this wicked thing; but he durst not, because of the fear of God. Or thus: Whatever injuries bad men do us (which we are not to wonder at; he that lies among thorns must expect to be scratched), yet we must not return them; never render railing for railing. Though wickedness proceed from the wicked, yet let it not therefore proceed from us by way of retaliation. Though the dog bark at the sheep, the sheep does not bark at the dog. See Isa. 32:6-8.
VI. He endeavours to convince Saul that as it was a bad thing, so it was a mean thing, for him to give chase to such an inconsiderable person as he was (v. 14): Whom does the king of Israel pursue with all this care and force? A dead dog; a flea; one flea, so it is in the Hebrew. It is below so great a king to enter the lists with one that is so unequal a match for him, one of his own servants, bred a poor shepherd, now an exile, neither able nor willing to make any resistance. To conquer him would not be to his honour, to attempt it was his disparagement. If Saul would consult his own reputation, he would slight such an enemy (supposing he were really his enemy) and would think himself in no danger from him. David was so far from aspiring that he was, in his own account, as a dead dog. Mephibosheth thus calls himself, 2 Sa. 9:8. This humble language would have wrought upon Saul if he had had any spark of generosity in him. Satis est prostrâsse leoni—Enough for the lion that he has laid his victim low. What credit would it be to Saul to trample upon a dead dog? What pleasure could it be to him to hunt a flea, a single flea, which (as some have observed), if it be sought, is not easily found, if it be found, is not easily caught, and, if it be caught, is a poor prize, especially for a prince. Aquila non captat muscas—The eagle does not dart upon flies. David thinks Saul had no more reason to fear him than to fear a flea-bite.
VII. He once and again appeals to God as the righteous Judge (v. 12 and v. 15): The Lord judge between me and thee. Note, The justice of God is the refuge and comfort of oppressed innocence. If men wrong us, God will right us, at furthest, in the judgment of the great day. With him David leaves his cause, and so rests satisfied, waiting his time to appear for him.
Verses 16-22
Here we have,
I. Saul's penitent reply to David's speech. It was strange that he had patience to hear him out, considering how outrageous he was against him, and how cutting David's discourse was. But God restrained him and his men; and we may suppose Saul struck with amazement at the singularity of the event, and much more when he found how much he had lain at David's mercy. His heart must have been harder than a stone if this had not affected him. 1. He melted into tears, and we will not suppose them to have been counterfeit but real expressions of his present concern at the sight of his own iniquity, so plainly proved upon him. He speaks as one quite overcome with David's kindness: Is this thy voice, my son David? And, as one that relented at the thought of his own folly and ingratitude, he lifted up his voice and wept, v. 16. Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them. 2. He ingenuously acknowledges David's integrity and his own iniquity (v. 17): Thou art more righteous than I. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Ps. 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience may leave it to God to secure them the credit of it. This fair confession was enough to prove David innocent (even his enemy himself being judge), but not enough to prove Saul himself a true penitent. He should have said, Thou are righteous, but I am wicked; but the utmost he will own is this: Thou art more righteous than I. Bad men will commonly go no further than this in their confessions; they will own they are not so good as some others are; there are those that are better than they, and more righteous. He now owns himself under a mistake concerning David (v. 18): "Thou hast shown this day that thou art so far from seeking my hurt that thou hast dealt well with me." We are too apt to suspect others to be worse affected towards us then really they are, and than perhaps they are proved to be; and when, afterwards, our mistake is discovered, we should be forward to recall our suspicions, as Saul does here. 3. He prays God to recompense David for this his generous kindness to him. He owns that David's sparing him, when he had him in his power, was an uncommon and unparalleled instance of tenderness to an enemy; no man would have done the like; and therefore, either because he thought himself not able to give him a full recompence for so great a favour, or because he found himself not inclined to give him any recompence at all, he turns him over to God for his pay: The Lord reward thee good, v. 19. Poor beggars can do no less than pray for their benefactors, and Saul did no more. 4. He prophesies his advancement to the throne (v. 20): I know well that thou shalt surely be king. He knew it before, by the promise Samuel had made him of it compared with the excellent spirit that appeared in David, which highly aggravated his sin and folly in persecuting him as he did; he had as much reason to say concerning David as David concerning him, How can I put forth my hand against the Lord's anointed? But now he knew it by the interest he found David had in the people, the special providence of God in protecting him, and the generous kingly spirit he had now given a proof of in sparing his enemy. Now he knew it, that is, now that he was in a good temper he was willing to own that he knew it and to submit to the conviction of it. Note, Sooner or later, God will force even those that are of the synagogue of Satan to know and own those that he has loved, and to worship before their feet; for so is the promise, Rev. 3:9. This acknowledgement which Saul made of David's incontestable title to the crown was a great encouragement to David himself and a support to his faith and hope. 5. He binds David with an oath hereafter to show the same tenderness of his seed and of his name as he had now shown of his person, v. 21. David had more reason to oblige Saul by an oath that he would not destroy him, yet he insists not on that (if the laws of justice and honour would not bind him, an oath would not), but Saul knew David to be a conscientious man, and would think his interests safe if he could get them secured by his oath. Saul by his disobedience had ruined his own soul, and never took care by repentance to prevent that ruin, and yet is very solicitous that his name might not be destroyed nor his seed cut off. However, David swore unto him, v. 22. Though he might be tempted, not only in revenge, but in prudence, to extirpate Saul's family, yet he binds himself not to do it, knowing that God could and would establish the kingdom to him and his, without the use of such bloody methods. This oath he afterwards religiously observed; he supported Mephibosheth, and executed those as traitors that slew Ishbosheth. The hanging up of seven of Saul's posterity, to atone for the destruction of the Gibeonites, was God's appointment, not David's act, and therefore not the violation of this oath.
II. Their parting in peace. 1. Saul, for the present, desisted from the persecution. He went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his envy of David, yet retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that, when at last he had found David, he could not at that time find in his heart to destroy him, as he had designed. God has many ways to tie the hands of persecutors, when he does not turn their hearts. 2. David continued to shift for his own safety. He knew Saul too well to trust him, and therefore got him up into the hold. It is dangerous venturing upon the mercy of a reconciled enemy. We read of those who believed in Christ, and yet he did not commit himself to them because he knew all men. Those that like David are innocent as doves must thus like him be wise as serpents.