1 Samuel 24:1-7

1 Samuel 24:1-7

[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 Engedi.  [2] Then Saul  took  three  thousand  men  out of all Israel,  to seek  David  upon  the rocks  of the wild goats.  [3] And he came  to the sheepcotes  by the way,  where was a cave;  and Saul  went in  to cover  his feet:  and David  remained  in the sides  of the cave.  [4] of David  said  unto him, 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.  [5] And it came to pass afterward,  that David's  heart  smote  him, because he had cut off  Saul's  skirt.  [6] And he said  unto his men,  forbid  that I should do  this thing  unto my master,  anointed,  to stretch forth  mine hand  against him, seeing he is the anointed  [7] So David  stayed  with these words,  and suffered  them not to rise  against Saul.  rose up  out of the cave,  on his way. 

What does 1 Samuel 24:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Engedi lay near the Dead Sea"s western shore close to its mid-point north to south. Even today it is a refreshing oasis with waterfalls, pools, tropical plants, and wild goats. The Hebrew word means "spring of the kid." It may have been while David was hiding in this cave that he wrote Psalm 57 and or Psalm 142 (see their titles; cf. 1 Samuel 22:1).
Saul pursued David with3 ,000 of his finest soldiers, which gave him a five-to-one advantage over David, who had only600 men ( 1 Samuel 23:13). The "Rocks of the Wild Goats" was evidently a local site, which archaeologists have not yet identified. There Saul discovered a sheepfold that evidently encircled the mouth of one of the caves in those limestone hills. The king entered the cave to relieve himself, unaware of the mortal danger in which he was placing himself because David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the same cave.
David"s men interpreted Saul"s vulnerable position as a divine provision whereby David could free himself from his enemy ( 1 Samuel 24:4). There is no record in the text that God had indeed told David what they said He had. He may have told David that he would overcome his enemy, but certainly He had not given David permission to assassinate His anointed, King Saul. David"s advisers seem to have been resorting to pious language to urge David to follow their counsel (cf. 1 Samuel 23:7). We must always evaluate the advice of friends in the light of God"s Word even when they claim divine authority. Their counsel moved David to take some action against Saul, which he soon regretted.
The hem or edge of a person"s garment in the ancient Near East made a statement about his or her social standing. A king"s hem was especially ornate and identified him as the king. [1] By cutting off this piece of Saul"s robe, which Saul may have laid aside as he relieved himself ( 1 Samuel 24:3), David suggested that he could cut off Saul"s reign just as easily (cf. 1 Samuel 24:21). His act constituted mild rebellion against Saul"s authority. [2]
Almost immediately David realized that his clever trick was inappropriate. Since Saul was the king, David had no right to tamper with his clothing. Furthermore, David realized that any attempt to take the kingdom from Saul, as he had taken the symbol of that kingdom, was contrary to God"s will. Since Saul was God"s anointed ( 1 Samuel 24:6) it was God"s place to remove him, not David"s.
This little incident provides another window into David"s thinking. David was acknowledging Yahweh"s sovereignty by submitting to His authority in setting Saul up as king (cf. Proverbs 24:21). David refused to take revenge for the trouble that Saul had caused him.
"Perhaps no greater example of wisdom practice is found than in David"s response to Saul." [3]
It is interesting that God prevented David"s enemies from assassinating him later when he was Israel"s king (cf. Galatians 6:7). Compare also Jesus" refusal to take vengeance on His enemies ( Luke 23:34).