1 Samuel — Chapter 24

David's men urge him to kill Saul in the cave: \"This is the day of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand.\" Lapide: God's words were spoken to David perhaps through Gad, Nathan, or Samuel, or by interior revelation, to animate him to greater trials.

David arose and cut off the hem of Saul's garment secretly. Lapide: he did not go with the settled intention of killing Saul but was undecided — the first movements of resentment (suggested by companions) arose, but his will never consented to kill the king; he rose and went to Saul undecided, and merely cut the hem as the first thing at hand.

His heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of Saul's robe. Lapide: the conscience of the just reproaches them even for the most trivial act against a superior. Bernard: \"It is characteristic of good minds to acknowledge fault where there is none.\" David did not sin in cutting the hem — he did it to demonstrate benevolence and break Saul's hatred — yet his conscience stung him even for this minor act.

The Lord be merciful to me, that I do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. Lapide: Chrysostom (De Davide et Saule): \"David came out of the cave with that right hand of his — worth the price of the whole world — crowned with the crown of justice and meekness; having done more for himself by sparing Saul than by killing Goliath.\" David's victory over self was more glorious than his victory over Goliath.

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 in my hand neither evil nor wickedness, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. Lapide: David's argument is both a proof of his innocence and a powerful appeal to Saul's conscience. He calls Saul \"my father\" — model of reverence to superiors even when unjust and hostile. Gregory (Pastor. III, Admon. 5): David not cutting Saul's neck = pious subjects refraining from wounding even unjust superiors with the sword of the tongue.

The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee; but mine hand shall not be upon thee. Lapide: David appeals to divine justice because human justice (Saul as judge) was wholly absent. So Athanasius to Constantine: \"The Lord judge between me and thee, O Emperor, for thou hast believed the calumnies of my enemies.\"

After whom dost thou pursue, O king of Israel? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after one flea. David's profound humility: he calls himself, anointed king of Israel, a dead dog and a single flea before Saul. True humility does not calculate dignity but contemns self before others — especially before divinely appointed superiors.

And he said to David: Thou art more just than I; for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee evil. Saul's compunction and tears before David. Lapide: David's patience and clemency achieved what no force could — it converted the enemy's hatred into love and extracted from him a public acknowledgement of his own injustice.

Saul acknowledges: \"The Lord delivered me into thy hand today, and thou hast not slain me.\" And he asks David for an oath not to cut off his descendants. Lapide: David swore and spared Saul's lineage, showing that mercy and fidelity to oaths are marks of the man whom God will exalt to rule.