8 and David riseth afterwards, and goeth out from the cave, and calleth after Saul, saying, 'My lord, O king!' And Saul looketh attentively behind him, and David boweth—face to the earth—and doth obeisance.
9 And David saith to Saul, 'Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil? 10 Lo, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and 'one' said to slay thee, and 'mine eye' hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he 'is'. 11 'And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul to take it! 12 'Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee; 13 as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee. 14 'After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing?—after a dead dog! after one flea! 15 And Jehovah hath been for judge, and hath judged between me and thee, yea, he seeth and pleadeth my cause, and doth deliver me out of thy hand.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:8-15
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:8-15
(Read 1 Samuel 24:8-15)
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.