241 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines , he was told , saying , "Behold , David is in the wilderness of Engedi ." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats . 3 He came to the sheepfolds e on the way , where there was a cave ; and Saul went in to relieve e himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave . 4 The men of David said to him, "Behold , this is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold ; I am about to give your enemy into your hand , and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.' " Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly . 5 It came about afterward e that David's conscience bothered him because e he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. 6 So he said to his men , " Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord , the Lord'S anointed , to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord'S anointed ." 7 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul . And Saul arose , left the cave , and went on his way . 8 Now afterward e David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul , saying , "My lord the king !" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:1-8
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 24:1-7)
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, against doing Saul any hurt. Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist temptations thereto. He not only would not do this bad thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it. Thus he rendered good for evil, to him from whom he received evil for good; and was herein an example to all who are called Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:8-15
(Read 1 Samuel 24:8-15)
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.