24:1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following
the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold,
David [is] in the wilderness of b Engedi.
24:4 And the men of David said unto him, c Behold the day of
which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine
enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it
shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off
the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
(c) Here we see how ready we are to hasten God's promise,
if the occasion serve never so little.
24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart d smote
him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
(d) For seeing it was his own private cause, he repented
that he had touched his enemy.
24:9 And David said to Saul, e Wherefore hearest thou men's
words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
(e) Contrary to the report of those who said David was
Saul's enemy, he proves himself to be his friend.
24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of
speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, f [Is]
this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his
voice, and wept.
(f) Though he was a cruel enemy to David, yet by his great
gentleness his conscience compelled him to yield.
24:20 And now, behold, I g know well that thou shalt surely be
king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established
in thine hand.
(g) Though this tyrant saw and confessed the favour of God
toward David, yet he did not cease to persecute him
against his own conscience.
