SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:4
Entonces los de David le dijeron: He aquí el día que te ha dicho el SEÑOR: He aquí que yo entrego tu enemigo en tus manos, y harás con él como te pareciere. Y se levantó David, y calladamente cortó la orilla de la ropa de Saúl.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 24:4
Verse 4. And the men of David said] We know not to what promise of God the men of David refer; they perhaps meant no more than to say, "Behold, the Lord hath delivered thine enemy into thy land, now do to him as he wishes to do to thee." Then David arose] Though I have a high opinion of the character of David, yet the circumstances of the case seem to indicate that he arose to take away the life of Saul, and that it was in reference to this that his heart smote him. It appears that he rose up immediately at the desire of his men to slay his inveterate enemy, and one whom he knew the Lord had rejected; but when about to do it he was prevented by the remonstrance of God in his conscience, and instead of cutting off his head, as he might have done, an act which the laws and usages of war would have justified, he contented himself with cutting off the skirt of his robe; and he did this only to show Saul how much he had been in his power.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And the men of David said unto him , etc.] Some of his principal men, who were about him, and near him, such as Joab and Abishai: behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee : now the time was come that he spoke of to him by Samuel, or Gad, or to himself directly: behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand ; and such was Saul, as appeared by his seeking to take away his life; and now he was in the hand of David to take away his life, if he pleased: that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee ; an opportunity of this kind now offered: then David arose ; from that part of the cave in which he was, the further part of it: and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily ; unawares to him, and unobserved by him, which might be easily done, if Saul was asleep, and it is probable he was; and by the same way it may be accounted for that he did not hear the discourse that passed between David and his men.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himsel and with his men, against doing Saul any hurt. Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist temptations thereto. He no only would not do this bad thing himself, but he would not suffer thos about him to do it. Thus he rendered good for evil, to him from whom he received evil for good; and was herein an example to all who are calle Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 אנשׁי 376 דוד 1732 אליו 413 הנה 2009 היום 3117 אשׁר 834 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 אליך 413 הנה 2009 אנכי 595 נתן 5414 את 853 איביך 341 בידך 3027 ועשׂית 6213 לו כאשׁר 834 יטב 3190 בעיניך 5869 ויקם 6965 דוד 1732 ויכרת 3772 את 853 כנף 3671 המעיל 4598 אשׁר 834 לשׁאול 7586 בלט׃ 3909
