9 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
Do not go about saying untrue things among your people, or take away the life of your neighbour by false witness: I am the Lord.
Let my lord the king give ear now to the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who is moving you against me, let him take an offering: but if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for driving me out today and keeping me from my place in the heritage of the Lord, saying, Go, be the servant of other gods.
When destruction comes to their judges by the side of the rock, they will give ear to my words, for they are sweet.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry face caused by a tongue saying evil secretly.
Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended. Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started. The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.
If a ruler gives attention to false words, all his servants are evil-doers.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 24
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 24
We have hitherto had Saul seeking an opportunity to destroy David, and, to his shame, he could never find it. In this chapter David had a fair opportunity to destroy Saul, and, to his honour, he did not make use of it; and his sparing Saul's life was as great an instance of God's grace in him as the preserving of his own life was of God's providence over him. Observe,
1Sa 24:1-8
Here,
1Sa 24:9-15
We have here David's warm and pathetic speech to Saul, wherein he endeavours to convince him that he did him a great deal of wrong in persecuting him thus and to persuade him therefore to be reconciled.
1Sa 24:16-22
Here we have,