1 Samuel 24
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 24
NJB (MT versing) David Spares Saul's Life David Spares Saul Davis Spares Saul's Life (23:15-24:22) David Spares Saul's Life David Spares Saul 24:1-7 24:1-7 24:1-7 24:1-7a 24:1-8 24:7b-15 24:8-15 24:8-15 24:8-15 24:9-16 24:16-22 24:16-22 24:16-22 24:16-22a 24:17-22 24:22b Etc.
1 Samuel 24:1-7
24:2 "chosen men" These were his best, most loyal soldiers, probably Benjamites. Notice he takes 3,000 to confront David's 600. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA "the Rocks of the Wild Goats" NJB, REB "the rocks of Mountain Goats" "Sadaiem" "the mountains of the wild goats" This must have been somewhere close to Engedi (lit. "spring of wild goats"). The Rift Valley rises quickly to the hill country of Judea. 24:3 "relieve himself" This (BDB 696, KB 754, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is literally "cover his feet." several times in the OT "feet" are a euphemism for male genitals (cf. Exod. 4:25; Jdgs. 3:24; Ruth 3:4,7,8,14; Isa. 7:20) female genitalia (cf. Deut. 28:57; Ezek. 16:25) possibly angelic genitalia (cf. Isa. 6:2) NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1048, mentions that in 2 Kgs. 18:27 and Isa. 18:27; 36:12, where urine is called "water of feet." 24:4 David spares Saul's life but takes the opportunity to try to show him that he was not his enemy (vv. 8-15). SPECIAL TOPIC: "the sons of God" in GENESIS 6 ▣ "enemy" The MT has a PLURAL Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, but the Masoretic scholars suggested a SINGULAR (BDB 33, KB 38). ▣ David's men take Saul's entering the cave as a sign YHWH was delivering him to David, but this was not the case. Be careful of random circumstances being interpreted as the will of God! Revelation and spiritual discernment, not circumstances, must guide our lives! 24:5 "David's conscience bothered him" This is literally "David's heart smote him" (BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw). This same imagery is used of David again in 2 Sam. 24:10. David had a soft heart toward God. ▣ "the edge" NKJV, NRSV "a corner" TEV, REB "a piece" "the border" "the corner" "the wing" "the skirt" The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (BDB 489, KB 486), which denotes the end of a garment (i.e., Saul's royal robe). The same word occurs for Samuel's priestly robe in 1 Sam. 15:27. It is used of a common robe in Num. 15:38; Deut. 22:12. 24:6 David felt that Saul was still in a sense YHWH's chosen king (lit. anointed). Saul's removal must be an act of God, not David. SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE 24:7 NASB, LXX "persuaded" NKJV, Peshitta "restrained" "scolded" "convinced" "reproved" "said to his men" The MT has the strong VERB (BDB 1042, KB 1608, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) which means "divide," "cleave," "tear in pieces." BDB comments that this is too strong in meaning for this context and suggests a textual error for the word "restrains."
1 Samuel 24:8-15
24:8 David showed humility and honor to Saul. called him "My lord the king," v. 8 bowed his face to the ground, v. 8 prostrated himself, v. 8 called him "father" (respectful imagery), v. 11 calls himself a dead dog, v. 14 a single flea, v. 14 24:9 Saul had been given bad advice from his counselors Doeg the evil spirit from the Lord military, family leaders 24:11 Notice the imperatives. "see" ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal "see" ‒ same as #1 (repeated for emphasis) "know" ‒ BDB 393, KB 390, Qal "perceive" ‒ lit. "see," same as #1,2 David claims he has not acted militantly against Saul. no evil no rebellion no sin 24:12 "May the Lord judge between you and me" This is a Qal IMPERFECT VERB used in a JUSSIVE sense (BDB 1047, KB 1622). Even though the next VERB is a PERFECT, it seems to be used also in a JUSSIVE sense (as in v. 15). 24:13 David is promising that he will not attack Saul (vv. 12-13). He is not the proverbial "wicked person" (BDB 957), but a loyal subject. 24:14 This is common ANE imagery of insignificance. 24:15 When YHWH judges, David is convinced He will. YHWH will see (i.e., know) ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal JUSSIVE YHWH will defend David (lit. "plead my cause") ‒ BDB 936, KB 1224, Qal JUSSIVE YHWH will deliver ‒ BDB 1047, KB 1622, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
1 Samuel 24:16-22
24:16-22 This paragraph is so sad to me. The mental illness of Saul is clearly revealed in his past acts (trying to kill David) current humility calls David "my son," v. 16 he wept, v. 16 you are more righteous than I, v. 17; see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS. admitted his wickedness against David, v. 17 David's mercy to him, vv. 18-19 24:17 "while I" This is an intensified structure that emphasizes the contrast between Saul's actions and David's actions. This relates back to v. 12. YHWH will judge between these two anointed leaders! 24:20 What a shocking admission! This is what Jonathan had asserted in 1 Sam. 23:17. Saul knew YHWH's will but chose to try to alter it! ▣ "you shall surely be king" This is the intensified construction of an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 573, KB 590). 24:21 Saul asked David not to kill his family and cut off his name, as Jonathan had asked in 1 Sam. 20;15. This death to all relatives was common in the ANE when kingship changed (cf. Jdgs. 9:5; 1 Kgs. 15:29; 16:11; 2 Kgs. 10:1-17; 11:1).