1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24
The pages containing the Books of Samuel (1 & 2 Samuel) in Leningrad Codex (1008 CE).
BookFirst book of Samuel
Hebrew Bible partNevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part3
CategoryFormer Prophets
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part9

1 Samuel 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the First Book of Samuel in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible or the first part of the Books of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible.[1] Jewish tradition attributes the book to the prophet Samuel, with later additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan;[2] modern scholarship, however, regards it as a compilation of independent texts dated to c. 630–540 BCE.[3][4] This chapter contains the account of David's escape from Saul's repeated attempts to kill him.[5][6] This is within a section comprising 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 5 which records the rise of David as the king of Israel.[7]

Text

This chapter was originally written in Biblical Hebrew. It is divided into 22 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Textual tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).[8] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q51 (4QSama; 100–50 BCE) with extant verses 3–5, 8–10, 14–23.[9][10][11][12]

Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).[13][a]

Places

Places mentioned in this chapter

David spared Saul (24:1–15)

The section beginning with chapter 24:1 (1 Samuel 23:29 in the Christian numbering) reports David's move to En-gedi in the hilly area around the Dead Sea, while Saul, returning from a battle with the Philistines, was pursuing.[15] The section emphasizes two points:

  1. David could have easily killed Saul and thereby seized the kingship.
  2. He resisted the temptation to kill God's mashiach (Biblical Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ, romanized: māšîaḥ, lit. 'anointed one'), and even prevented his men from harming Saul (verses 7–8).[15] David elaborated in his speech (verses 9–16) that instead of taking vengeance on Saul for "treating him like an insignificant dog or flea", he duly acknowledged Saul's position as a God-chosen king (verse 9) while entrusted vengeance to God (verse 13).[15] Another similar account of sparing Saul's life is found in 1 Samuel 26.[15]

Verse 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.[16]
  • "Sheepcotes" or "sheepfolds" (גִּדְרוֹת הַצֹּאן, gidrōt haṣ-ṣōn, 'enclosures of the flock'): simple walled enclosures into which sheep are driven at night to protect them from robbers or wild beasts.[17][18][19][20][21] Sheepfolds could be in the form of caves during the winter.[22]
  • "Cover his feet" (לְהָסֵךְ אֶת־רַגְלָיו, lehāsēkh ʾet-raglāv): an idiom (or euphemism) for relieving oneself.[23][24][25]

David’s oath to Saul (24:16–22)

This section contrasts David's uprightness in submitting to the will of God and refraining from taking matters into his own hands with Saul's pitiful figure.[26] All three parts of Saul's speech reflect his weak position:

  • Saul conceded that his actions had been evil and that David was more righteous than he (verse 17).
  • Saul acknowledged that David would become king.[b]
  • Saul pleaded with David to safeguard his reputation and ensure his descendants' safety, echoing Jonathan's agreement with David regarding the house of Saul in 1 Samuel 20:14–15.[28][29]

Verse 23

David swore to Saul, Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the strongholds.[30]

Typically, succeeding monarchs of a new dynasty would slaughter the descendants of the previous king to eliminate rivals. However, David vowed not to destroy Saul's lineage and kept this promise through his treatment of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson.[31][32][33] When Saul returned home, David, understanding Saul's duplicitous nature, wisely chose not to pursue him but instead stayed a fugitive in the wilderness.[34]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The whole book of 1 Samuel is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus.[14]
  2. ↑ As reported by Jonathan to David at Horesh in 1 Samuel 23:17.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Halley 1965, p. 182.
  2. ↑ Hirsch, Emil G. "SAMUEL, BOOKS OF". www.jewishencyclopedia.com.
  3. ↑ Knight 1995, p. 62.
  4. ↑ Jones 2007, p. 197.
  5. ↑ Jones 2007, p. 209.
  6. ↑ Coogan 2007, p. 433 Hebrew Bible.
  7. ↑ Jones 2007, p. 207.
  8. ↑ Würthwein 1995, pp. 35–37.
  9. ↑ Ulrich 2010, pp. 283–284.
  10. ↑ Dead sea scrolls - 1 Samuel
  11. ↑ Fitzmyer 2008, p. 35.
  12. ↑ 4Q51 at the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library
  13. ↑ Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.
  14. ↑  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Codex Sinaiticus". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Jones 2007, p. 211.
  16. ↑ 1 Samuel 24:3
  17. ↑ Numbers 32:16
  18. ↑ Judges 5:16
  19. ↑ 2 Chronicles 32:28
  20. ↑ Psalms 78:70
  21. ↑ Zechariah 2:6
  22. ↑ Patch, James A. (1915) "Entry for 'SHEEPCOTE; SHEEPFOLD'". In: "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor.
  23. ↑ "Steinsaltz on I Samuel 24:4". Sefaria Library. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Note on 1 Samuel 24:3 in NET Bible
  25. ↑ Coogan 2007, p. 436 Hebrew Bible.
  26. ↑ Jones 2007, p. 212.
  27. ↑ 1 Samuel 23:17
  28. ↑ 1 Samuel 20:14–15
  29. ↑ Jones 2007, pp. 211–212.
  30. ↑ 1 Samuel 24:23 (RJPS)
  31. ↑ 2 Samuel 21:7
  32. ↑ Talmud, b. Yevamot 79a:5–6
  33. ↑ Coogan 2007, p. 437 Hebrew Bible.
  34. ↑ Evans 2018, p. 249.

Sources

Commentaries on Samuel

General

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