1 Samuel Chapter 24
David Spares Saul’s Life
A. David doesn’t kill Saul when he has the opportunity.
(1 Samuel 24:1–2) – “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. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.”
When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, word came to him that David was hiding in the wilderness of Engedi. In the previous chapter, God had providentially delivered David by forcing Saul to break off his pursuit and fight the Philistines. Yet, once that battle ended, Saul immediately resumed his campaign against David. This reveals the persistence of Saul’s jealousy and hatred, showing that unless the heart is transformed, temporary distractions will not stop sin’s pursuit.
We often wish that our next victory in life would be a final one, that the temptations or adversities pursuing us would give up once and for all. Yet spiritual enemies, like Saul, return again and again until our final victory in glory. True and lasting rest from conflict is only found when we are in the presence of the Lord. Until then, we live in continual dependence on His strength.
The wilderness of Engedi lies along the western shore of the Dead Sea. Amid the desolation of the desert, it is a surprising oasis filled with streams, waterfalls, and vegetation. It is still known for its wildlife, particularly the ibex, or wild goats, which gave the area its name. This was a strategic hiding place for David and his men, as the cliffs and caves provided concealment, water, and a clear vantage point to detect approaching troops. Even in the midst of the barren desert, God provided David with shelter and sustenance, illustrating His care and faithfulness to those who trust in Him.
(1 Samuel 24:3) – “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.”
The mention of “sheepcotes” indicates a large cave, sufficient to house sheep and their shepherds. It was within such a cave that David and his men—about six hundred in number—hid themselves deep in the dark recesses, unseen by Saul and his company outside.
Saul entered the cave “to cover his feet,” a Hebrew expression meaning to attend to his private needs or to rest. The Bible, being a truthful and realistic book, records such ordinary moments of life, and yet here we see divine providence at work even in the smallest details. The timing was no accident. God arranged the moment and place so that Saul would enter the very cave where David was hiding.
This event was more than coincidence; it was a divine test. God orchestrated this encounter to examine David’s heart, to reveal whether he would seize the opportunity to take vengeance into his own hands or trust in the Lord’s timing and justice. Saul’s entrance into the cave alone, unguarded and vulnerable, demonstrated how completely God controlled the situation. Though Saul sought David’s life, God placed Saul’s life entirely in David’s hands, proving that David’s deliverance would not come by his own sword but by his obedience and faith.
This passage reveals a central truth about God’s providence. Even when men act out of self-interest or sin, God can arrange events with perfect precision to test, refine, and display the faithfulness of His people. David’s restraint here shows that true godliness is not measured by opportunity but by obedience.
(1 Samuel 24:4–7) – “And the men 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. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”
When Saul unknowingly entered the cave where David and his men were hiding, David’s followers saw what seemed to be the perfect opportunity to end their suffering. They urged David to take advantage of what they believed was a divine setup, saying, “This is the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand.” To them, Saul’s vulnerable position was an unmistakable sign from God that it was time to act. Their reasoning was humanly sound, but spiritually flawed. They misinterpreted providence to justify vengeance, assuming that because the opportunity was there, it must be God’s will to take it.
David arose and quietly approached Saul in the darkness, but rather than striking him down, he only cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Perhaps Saul had laid his robe aside while he attended to his needs, allowing David to cut a portion without being detected. This small act showed both David’s courage and restraint. His men likely held their breath as David moved toward Saul, expecting to hear the sound of a sword striking flesh. But David refused to take matters into his own hands. He understood that the Lord had anointed Saul as king, and that removing Saul from power was God’s prerogative, not his. David desired the promise of the throne, but he would not obtain it through sin. He understood that God’s promises must be fulfilled in God’s way.
This reveals a deep spiritual lesson: God’s people must never attempt to achieve divine promises through disobedience. The end does not justify the means. David could have rationalized his actions by saying, “God promised me the kingdom, and now He has given me the chance to claim it.” Yet David refused to grasp the crown by force. He knew that a kingdom gained through sin would never bear the blessing of God. The same principle applies today: God’s promises require faith, not manipulation. As Abraham trusted God to keep His word even when it meant offering Isaac, so David trusted that God would bring about His plan without his interference. As our Lord Jesus Christ rejected Satan’s shortcut to world dominion (Luke 4:5–8), David rejected the temptation to seize the throne through bloodshed.
David’s restraint demonstrated not only his faith but also his patience. He was willing to wait on the Lord in prayer and submission, and also to wait for the Lord to act in His own time. He wanted the day he ascended the throne to bear God’s fingerprints, not his own. This is the mark of a man after God’s own heart—one who values righteousness more than results.
Afterward, David’s heart troubled him. Though he had not killed Saul, even the act of cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe convicted his conscience. The robe symbolized Saul’s royal authority, and to damage it was to show dishonor to God’s appointed king. David felt grief for having done even this small act against the Lord’s anointed. His heart was sensitive to God’s authority, a rare quality in a warrior and leader. Many would have been proud of their self-control in not killing Saul, but David was grieved that he had done even so little against him.
He expressed this conviction to his men, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed.” Though Saul had repeatedly sinned, persecuted the innocent, and forfeited God’s favor, David recognized that Saul’s removal must come from God’s hand alone. David would not raise his sword against one whom God had once anointed. This reflected a heart that feared the Lord and understood that rebellion against God’s established authority is rebellion against God Himself.
David’s words also restrained his men. It was not enough for him to avoid sin; he also had to prevent others from doing evil in his name. Many would have said, “I will not do it myself, but if one of my men does, it is out of my hands.” David would not take that path. He firmly forbade his men from attacking Saul. His humility and godly fear influenced them to share his restraint. The purity of his conscience and his example of obedience had a sanctifying effect on those around him.
David’s tender conscience stands in stark contrast to Saul’s hardened heart. Saul had sinned gravely without remorse, while David’s heart smote him for merely cutting a piece of cloth. Such sensitivity to sin marks the difference between a man after God’s heart and one hardened by pride. Even a small act of disrespect troubled David, because his heart was aligned with God’s will. This is a vital lesson for believers today: true holiness is not only avoiding great sins, but feeling conviction even for small compromises that grieve the Spirit.
In this moment, David showed that his strength was not in his sword, but in his heart’s submission to God. He overcame the greatest temptation a man in his position could face—the temptation to take by force what God had promised by grace. His reverence for God’s anointing, his restraint toward Saul, and his sensitivity of conscience reveal the depth of his faith and the purity of his character.
B. David Appeals to Saul
(1 Samuel 24:8) – “David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.”
After Saul departed from the cave, David took an extraordinary step of faith. He could have remained safely hidden in the darkness, secure in the knowledge that Saul did not find him. Instead, David came out into the open, calling after the very man who sought his life. This was a dangerous act that placed David completely at Saul’s mercy, yet it revealed David’s desire not for revenge, but for reconciliation. He wanted Saul to see his heart and understand that he harbored no hatred or rebellion toward him.
David called out, “My lord the king,” showing deep respect for Saul’s position. Then, in a display of humility, “David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.” David did not approach Saul as an equal, though both had been anointed by God. He did not remind Saul that he was destined to be king or use this opportunity to assert his right to the throne. Instead, David acknowledged Saul’s present authority as legitimate and treated him with the reverence due a king. This was not mere formality but genuine submission to God’s ordained order.
Such humility reveals David’s trust in the Lord’s sovereignty. He bowed not only to Saul as king but to God who had placed Saul in that position. His posture of submission was an act of faith—placing his life entirely in God’s hands. Saul could have ordered his soldiers to strike him down on the spot, yet David trusted that obedience to God’s principles would always bring greater safety than self-preservation.
(1 Samuel 24:9–15) – “And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee, but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”
David began his address to Saul with remarkable grace and restraint. He said, “Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?” Though David knew Saul’s jealousy and paranoia were self-generated, he wisely shifted the blame to others, saying that Saul had been misled by false reports. This approach softened Saul’s pride and gave him a way to admit his error without humiliation. Even in confrontation, David showed mercy, demonstrating that true godliness includes both truth and grace. He embodied the principle later expressed in Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins,” and 1 Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
David then presented undeniable proof of his innocence: “See the skirt of thy robe in my hand.” This physical evidence made clear that David had both opportunity and motive to kill Saul but refused to do so. As Saul looked at the piece of his torn robe, the message from God must have pierced his heart. The robe symbolized his royal authority, and its torn edge was a vivid reminder of Samuel’s words in 1 Samuel 15:27–28: “And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.” The torn robe before him now reinforced that the kingdom was indeed slipping from Saul’s grasp, and that neighbor—David—was standing before him in humility and mercy.
David continued, “Let the Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” Instead of defending himself through violence, David placed his case entirely in God’s hands. He would not take vengeance, nor seek to justify himself by force. He trusted that God would be his defender and deliverer. The principle here is vital: vengeance belongs to the Lord alone. David understood what Paul would later write in Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
David then cited an ancient proverb: “Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked.” He was saying, “Saul, my actions prove my heart. If I were wicked, I would have done a wicked thing when I had the chance. But I have done you no harm.” His mercy toward Saul was living proof that he was not Saul’s enemy.
David closed his appeal with great humility, saying, “After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.” David saw himself as insignificant and unworthy of Saul’s wrath. His humility disarmed Saul’s pride and revealed the futility of Saul’s vendetta. He concluded by entrusting everything to the righteous Judge, “The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”
In these words, David expressed profound faith. Though wronged, hunted, and falsely accused, he would not take matters into his own hands. He would not seize the throne through rebellion or sin. Instead, he waited on God’s vindication. His faith rested in the certainty that the same Lord who anointed him would in His time and way establish him. David’s conscience was clear, his spirit humble, and his confidence fully placed in God’s justice.
C. Saul’s Reaction to David
(1 Samuel 24:16–19) – “And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.”
When David finished his humble and reasoned appeal, Saul’s hardened heart was pierced. Hearing David’s voice, Saul was overcome with emotion, crying out, “Is this thy voice, my son David?” and lifting up his voice in tears. The tenderness of David’s mercy shattered the delusion Saul had been living under—that David was seeking to destroy him. The overwhelming evidence of David’s loyalty and restraint exposed Saul’s self-deception and guilt. David’s obedience to God and love toward Saul softened what had been a deeply bitter heart.
Saul confessed, “Thou art more righteous than I.” In this admission, he acknowledged David’s moral superiority and righteousness before God. David had repaid evil with good, and mercy with restraint, while Saul had returned David’s loyalty with persecution. Saul admitted that David had done “well with me... when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.” This moment revealed the power of godly mercy to melt even the most calloused heart. By sparing Saul, David fulfilled the principle of Romans 12:20, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
Saul’s astonishment is captured in his words, “If a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?” He could not fathom such kindness from one he had so grievously wronged. In this, Saul recognized divine favor upon David, praying, “Wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.” Though his words were sincere in the moment, they reflected temporary conviction rather than lasting repentance. Still, David’s mercy stood as a testimony to Saul, leaving him without excuse for his continued rebellion against God’s will.
(1 Samuel 24:20–22) – “And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”
Saul now openly confessed what he had long known in his heart: “I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.” He had already admitted this truth once before in 1 Samuel 23:17, when Jonathan told David that Saul himself knew David was destined to reign. Yet this time, Saul’s words carried greater weight. The undeniable evidence of God’s hand upon David, and the witness of his mercy, left Saul with no ground to resist God’s decree.
Still, Saul’s concern turned immediately to his own legacy. He pleaded, “Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me.” This was a common practice in the ancient world; when a new royal dynasty rose, the previous king’s descendants were often executed to prevent rebellion. Saul sought a formal oath from David similar to the covenant he had made with Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:13–16, in which Jonathan asked David to show kindness to his family once he became king. Saul’s request was self-serving but understandable—he recognized that his days as king were numbered and his lineage threatened.
David readily swore this oath, showing grace toward Saul and his family. He would later honor this promise through his kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:7–8: “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”
However, this promise did not prevent the later execution of certain descendants of Saul in 2 Samuel 21:8–9, which was carried out under divine judgment, not personal vengeance. As Matthew Poole observed, “David could bind himself by his oaths, but he could not bind God... and that was done by God’s command, and God was well pleased with it.”
The narrative concludes soberly: “And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.” David did not follow Saul back to Gibeah, nor did he resume his former place at the royal court. He recognized that while Saul’s words were emotional and tearful, his repentance was shallow. David’s prudence prevented him from falling again into Saul’s grasp.
This reveals an important spiritual principle—true repentance is not measured by emotion, but by the enduring change of heart that follows. Saul’s tears, confession, and blessing sounded sincere, yet David knew the danger of trusting momentary remorse without lasting transformation. As commentator Alan Redpath wrote, “What is the use of saying, ‘I have played the fool,’ if he goes on playing the fool? What use are his tears and confession if he doesn’t act upon his remorse?” Emotion without obedience leads only deeper into deception.
Many today mirror Saul’s experience—momentary conviction stirred by emotion, yet unchanged in practice. If a man recognizes his sin but refuses to repent in deed, his heart becomes harder than before. As Redpath warned, “Emotion that does not lead to action only leads deeper into sin and rebellion.”
David’s restraint, patience, and discernment stand in contrast to Saul’s instability. Though David longed for reconciliation, he wisely kept his distance, remaining in the stronghold until God’s purposes fully unfolded. His faith rested not in Saul’s promises, but in God’s providence.
