Over these past few chapters in the Book of Samuel, one thread runs throughout. We’re talking about King Saul’s dogged pursuit of David, a man whom the king believed undermined his rule.The Book of Samuel 24 needs to be seen as a short hiatus to Saul’s angst and chase. That is because at the close of our chapter, readers are led to believe that Saul and David reconciled. In truth, it will prove to be a short-lived pause.
“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
Our chapter starts familiarly enough, with Saul hunting David. “Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.” Somewhere among the crags of En-gedi, a cave caught Saul’s eye. “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.” The king, unaware that David and his men hid in the bowels of the cave, relieved himself there.
David had every moral and legal justification (self-defense) to kill Saul, who was alone because his soldiers afforded him space; they waited outside. David’s fighters egged him on. “And the men of David said unto him: Behold the day in which the LORD has said unto you: Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good unto you.” David’s soldiers did more than encourage him to seize the heaven-sent moment and kill Saul; they implored him to do so.
What was David’s dilemma, according to Abravanel? Why had David hesitated to assassinate Saul, contenting himself with a curious garment-cutting gesture, as we shall soon see? First, we review the pertinent verses.
“Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men: The LORD forbid it me, that I should do this thing unto my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed.” Initially, David failed to persuade his antsy warriors, who bristled. “So, David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”
Abravanel focuses on both of David’s arguments, providing insight into David’s thinking – and character. We begin with David’s remorse after snipping a swatch of Saul’s clothing: “And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.” David’s regret, for Abravanel, highlighted saintly sensibilities. That is, David believed the gesture constituted a slight to King Saul’s honor, high station. Perhaps more than that, David fretted, it might be interpreted as an act of sedition.
To chronicle the events, we begin with David’s commandos’ call for Saul’s scalp. Thus, when David returned to them with only a royal swatch, the fighters grumbled, as they expected David to kill Saul and not clip his clothing. David had some explaining to do, and explain he did. “And he said unto his men: The LORD forbid it me, that I should do this thing unto my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed.”
Note, Abravanel teaches, two arguments that David puts forth to quiet his disgruntled men. One, David related to Saul as his master and ruler. “The LORD forbid it me, that I should do this thing unto my lord.”
In any instance of anyone killing one’s senior, the dastardly deed rates as conspiratorial perfidy. And Saul was David’s boss. Two focuses on King Saul. He was “the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed.” King Saul was off limits, David reasoned, because God had elevated him to the highest office in the land. To that last point, David’s men demurred. Wasn’t David also the Maker’s anointed? Moreover, the men claimed, Saul’s term had terminated, leaving David the sole king of Israel. David retorted. “He is the LORD’s anointed.” Nothing could null and undo Saul’s anointment, save for an act of God.
In closing, Abravanel adds a final point regarding David’s thinking, one that certainly was meant as an expedient. That is, David intended to glorify and secure the monarchy. David adopted this position, not least of which, since he had a stake in the Hebrew monarchy. Thus, it was in his and in his family’s best interest to bolster people’s attitude toward the crown, and not cheapen it. Later in Samuel, we will read that David kills the Amalekite who took Saul’s life (II Samuel 1). This is consistent with the premise we have laid out; whoever lays a finger on a king will pay dearly.