1 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there wasa cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.
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1. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to rid David of his greatest threat?
Saul brings a force 5 times larger than David’s men. These are Saul’s elite fighting men, the best of the best. They have David’s force trapped in a cave, even though they don’t realize it. All it would take would be one sneeze and they all are road kill. All they have to do is grab Saul while he is sitting there reading his Wall Street Journal and kill him with his boxers down around his feet and their problems are over.
To relieve himself. Lit. “to cover his feet.” This is a euphemism for having a bowel movement, as the person would crouch with his inner garment dropped to his feet. MSBN
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2. Is this some kind of a test for David?
Could it be that God has allowed the situation to become reversed such that now David has the advantage and this is a test to see if David will indeed exhibit Christ like character?
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Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? Matt 26:52-53 (ESV)
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.Luke 12:48 (KJV)
David is to be a different kind of king. A man after God’s own heart and a king after God’s own heart. He must transcend the flesh and be led by the spirit.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessedare the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessedare the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matt 5:7-9 (KJV)
All great people go through periods of testing, even Jesus himself.
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. Luke 4:1-2 (NKJV)
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3. What attitude would we expect David to have toward his enemy Saul?
Conan! What is best in life? Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
‘” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5 It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 So he said to his men, ” Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’S anointed.” 7 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
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4. Why would David feel bad about cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe when he could have cut Saul’s throat.
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.By cutting off this piece of Saul’s robe, which Saul may have laid aside as he relieved himself, David suggested that he could cut off Saul’s reign just as easily. His act constituted mild rebellion against Saul’s authority.
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 it was God’s place to remove him, not David’s. CN
David’s act should not be judged by the amount of damage done, but rather in terms of against whom it is done. A seemingly trivial action would be taken very seriously if it were done to the President of the United States. David’s action was committed against his king. It matters not that the action is a small one, certainly trivial when compared to the assassination his men want. He has raised his hand against his king, and in so doing, he has raised his hand against his God. It is God who has raised up Saul, and it is God who will remove him, in some way that does not include David acting with hostility toward him. RD
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5. Verse 7 says that David persuaded his men. What exactly does this mean?
Only the most forceful reaction on David’s part turns them from their intended course of action. The translation of verse 7 in most versions is amazingly bland (“persuaded,” NASB), compared to the word the author employs (the marginal note in the NASB indicates that a literal translation would be tore apart). At the mention of killing the king, David literally tears into his men, fiercely defending the life of the king and demanding that, just as he would not lift his hand against the king, neither will they. While David’s men look at David in wonder, Saul finishes his task, gathers up his (now altered) robe, and goes out of the cave.RD
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8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’S anointed.’ 11 Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘ Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea? 15 TheLord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” 16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ” Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
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6. What points do David cite to convince Saul that he is not his enemy?
He calls Saul his lord and king acknowledging he still views Saul as the divinely appointed king of Israel.
By addressing Saul as his lord, his king, and his father, David expressed respect, submission, and affection. People sometimes used the term “father” to imply a covenant relationship, and David may have had that in mind here. He was Saul’s son-in-law and successor (son) under Yahweh’s covenant with Israel CN
He tells Saul that men have told lies about David to try to turn Saul against him.
He tells Saul that he had resisted the calls by his men to murder Saul when he had the chance.
He shows Saul the piece of robe as proof that he could have killed Saul.
David declared that he will leave judgment up to the Lord and not seek revenge on Saul.
David contrasted the relative positions of Saul and David. David being like a dead dog or a flea compared to Saul.
David had demonstrated to Saul that he was not seeking his life. Saul had been told, and wrongly so, that David was out to get him. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I think David was very much misunderstood, maligned, and misrepresented by both friend and enemy. David’s act of mercy in sparing Saul’s life should have made it abundantly clear that he was not seeking the king’s life. As David continues to reason with him, Saul actually weeps. JVM
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17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18 You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord delivered me into your hand and yetyou did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.” 22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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7. How does Saul react to David’s dissertation?
David’s words and actions convicted Saul of his actions (v. 17), and the king wept tears of remorse (v. 16). He referred to David as his “son” (v. 16), as David had earlier called Saul his “father” (v. 11). Saul confessed David’s superior righteousness (v. 17) and goodness (v. 18). There is no more powerful tribute than one that comes from an adversary. Saul even called on the Lord to reward David with blessing for his treatment of the king (v. 19). Saul then confessed that he realized that David’s ultimate succession to the throne of Israel was inevitable (v. 20; cf. 23:17). CN
Verse 20 is an amazing confession from Saul. For the first time recorded in Scripture, Saul owns up to the truth. He has been told by Samuel that his kingdom will not endure (13:14), that he has been rejected by God as Israel’s king (15:26). In chapter 18 (verses 8-9), Saul indicates that David is so popular, the only thing left is for him to possess the kingdom. In 20:31, Saul tells Jonathan that he will never inherit the throne so long as David is alive. Elsewhere, Saul deals with David as a traitor, plotting to do him in and take over the kingdom (see 22:6-13). But here, for the very first time, Saul acknowledges that God is taking his kingdom away from him and giving it to David. He admits that David’s ascent to the throne is a certainty. RD
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8. What is Saul’s final request of David?
Finally Saul asked David not to cut off his descendants when he came to power (v. 21). As noted earlier, it was customary in the ancient Near East for a new king to kill all the descendants of the ruler whom he replaced. This prevented them from rising up and reestablishing the dead king’s dynasty. David had already promised Jonathan that he would not kill his descendants (20:14-17), and he now made the same promise to Saul (v. 22). To cut off someone’s name meant to obliterate the memory of him. David even agreed to spare Saul’s reputation in Israel (cf. 2 Sam. 1:17-27).CN
Mephibosheth and David: 2 Samuel Chapter 9
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9. So Saul and David ride off together into the sunset singing Kumbaya?
After their conversation Saul returns home, but David and his men go to their stronghold. David still does not trust Saul. David goes farther and farther into the wilderness to hide, because he knows there will come a day when Saul will come after him again. I am of the opinion that Saul is actually demon-possessed at this time. We are told that an evil spirit had come upon him. JVM
The two men part.117 David goes up to the stronghold, while Saul goes back to his home (24:22). David is probably hopeful that his troubles with Saul have ended, but he is no fool. Saul has “repented” before (see 19:1-7), but it did not last long. David will see what Saul’s long-term response is by watching from a distance. The other side of this coin may be that David is actually serving Saul in a backhanded fashion. Are the people turning to David and looking down upon Saul? Then David will keep his distance, staying out of the public eye so that Saul’s popularity may not be undermined. RD
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· ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· CN …… Constables Notes
· ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· Gill………..John Gill Exposition of the Bible
· JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
· JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
· MH………..Matthew Henry Commentary
· MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
· RD………….Robert Deffinbaugh bible.org
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