View 1st Samuel 24 in the note window.
Saul pursues David to Engedi, ver. 1, 2.
David cuts off his skirt, ver. 3 - 7.
He reasons with Saul, ver. 8 - 15.
Saul owns his fault, and returns home, ver. 16 - 22
2: Rocks - Which the wild goats used to delight in and climb over.
These very rocks are exceeding steep, and full of precipices, and dangerous
to travellers, as an eye - witness hath left upon record. And yet Saul
was so transported with rage, as to venture himself and his army here, that
he might take David, who, as he thought, would judge himself safe, and
therefore be secure in such inaccessible places.
3: Went in - To sleep there: Saul being a military man, used to
sleep with his soldiers upon the ground. And it is not improbable, that
being weary with his eager and almost incessant pursuit, first of David,
then of the Philistines, and now of David again, he both needed and
desired some sleep, God also disposing him thereto, that David might
have this eminent occasion to demonstrate his integrity to Saul, and to
all Israel. Of the cave - For that there were vast caves in those
parts is affirmed, not only by Josephus, but also by Heathen
authors; Strabo writes of one which could receive four thousand men.
4: Behold, &c. - Not that God had said these words, or made any such
promise; but they put this construction upon those promises which God had
made to him, of delivering him from all his enemies, and carrying him
through all difficulties to the throne. This promise they conceived put
him under an obligation of taking all opportunities which God put into his
hand for their accomplishment.
10: Mine eye - The eye is said to spare, because it affects the heart
with pity, and moves a man to spare.
12: Will avenge - If thou persistest in thy injuries and cruel
designs against me.
13: Wickedness, &c. - That is, wicked men will do wicked actions,
among which this is one, to kill their sovereign lord and king; and
therefore if I were so wicked a person as thy courtiers represent me,
I should make no conscience of laying violent hands upon thee.
16: Thy voice - He knew his voice, though being at a great distance
from him, he could not discern his face. Wept - From the sense of his sin
against God, and his base carriage to David. He speaks as one quite
overcome with David's kindness, and as one that relents at the sight of
his own folly and ingratitude.
17: More righteous than I - He ingenuously acknowledges David's
integrity, and his own iniquity.
19: The Lord reward thee - Because he thought himself not able to
recompense so great a favour, he prays God to recompense it.
22: Unto the hold - Of En - gedi, ver.(1), for having had by
frequent experience of Saul's inconstancy, he would trust him no more.
