Saul Acknowledges He Was Wrong

After allowing Saul to leave, David called out to him pointing out that if he had wished to kill him, he could easily have done it while he was asleep.  It was clear Saul’s attempts to kill him were based on false claims and were not justified, as I Samuel 24:8-15 describes.  “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.

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 had been very respectful, while still making Saul aware of his sin and was content to allow God to judge, even though Saul was clearly in the wrong.  Saul was forced to admit David was right, and would have had every right to kill him.  He admitted he knew That God was going to give him the kingdom, and asked for assurance that David would not kill his family when he became king, in I Samuel 24:16-21.  “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 showed 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.

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.”

David had no interest in killing Saul’s family so he quickly agreed.  Saul and the army went home, but David didn’t trust him, going deeper into the wilderness, as I Samuel 24:22 tells us.  “And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”  David remembered how quickly Saul had changed his mind and attacked him unexpectedly before.  He had no assurance it would not happen again.  While we hope people who have repeatedly proven untrustworthy will keep their promise, it is foolish to assume they will without solid evidence of a change in attitude.   It is easy for some people to make apologies they don’t mean when they are publicly embarrassed.   Saul had to worry about what his men would think knowing David had refused to kill him.