1 Samuel 24:16-22

1 Samuel 24:16-22

[16] And it came to pass, when David  had made an end  of speaking  these words  unto Saul,  said,  Is this thy voice,  my son  David?  And Saul  lifted up  his voice,  and wept.  [17] And he said  to David,  Thou art more righteous  than I: for thou hast rewarded  me good,  whereas I have rewarded  thee evil.  [18] 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  [19] 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.  [20] And now, behold, I know well  that thou shalt surely  and that the kingdom  of Israel  shall be established  in thine hand.  [21] 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.  [22] And David  sware  unto Saul.  home;  but David  gat them up  unto the hold. 

What does 1 Samuel 24:16-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

David"s words and actions convicted Saul of his actions ( 1 Samuel 24:17), and the king wept tears of remorse ( 1 Samuel 24:16). He referred to David as his "son" ( 1 Samuel 24:16), as David had earlier called Saul his "father" ( 1 Samuel 24:11). Saul confessed David"s superior righteousness ( 1 Samuel 24:17) and goodness ( 1 Samuel 24:18). 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 ( 1 Samuel 24:19). Saul then confessed that he realized that David"s ultimate succession to the throne of Israel was inevitable ( 1 Samuel 24:20; cf. 1 Samuel 23:17).
Finally Saul asked David not to cut off his descendants when he came to power ( 1 Samuel 24:21). 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 ( 1 Samuel 20:14-17), and he now made the same promise to Saul ( 1 Samuel 24:22). 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 Samuel 1:17-27).
Saul"s remorse was evidently genuine, but David had learned that it would probably be only temporary. Consequently when Saul departed and returned to Gibeah, David again sought protection in "the stronghold," probably one of the refuges near Engedi (perhaps the site of Masada; 1 Samuel 24:22; cf. 1 Samuel 23:29).
This chapter helps us deal with the common temptation to get even, by showing us David"s example of trusting God and not retaliating. It also deals with how we should view securing what God has promised us. David let God determine how and when he would become king. He refused the temptation to take matters into his own hands and thereby determine his destiny (cf. 2 Kings 8:14-15). We see David growing in this chapter. He began by threatening the king, but then he backed off and declined to kill Saul. Finally he determined even to trust God to control Saul"s descendants, as well as Saul himself, and to preserve Saul"s memory in Israel. God rewarded David for his trust and obedience by giving him a peaceful conscience immediately, and safety when his own Song of Solomon , Absalom, rose up against him.