241 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines , he was told , saying , "Behold , David is in the wilderness of Engedi ." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats . 3 He came to the sheepfolds e on the way , where there was a cave ; and Saul went in to relieve e himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave . 4 The men of David said to him, "Behold , this is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold ; I am about to give your enemy into your hand , and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.' " Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:1-4
Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 24:1-7)
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 himself 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 not only would not do this bad thing himself, but he would not suffer those 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 called Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.