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1 Samuel 24:19

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 24:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
1 Samuel 24:19 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.
18And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.
19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.
20And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father`s house.
22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? etc.] Or “in a good way” f481, in peace and safety, without doing him any hurt; this is not usual among men, and yet this was the present case; David had found his enemy Saul, which Saul tacitly owns, and yet had let him go well away from him, without hurting him: wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day; he does not promise to reward him himself, but prays the Lord to reward him; and had he been sincere in it, he could not have done better for him. Some connect the former clause with this, after this manner, “if a man find his enemy, and let him go away, the Lord will reward him, the Lord reward…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord reward thee - Because he thought himself not able to recompense so great a favour, he prays God to recompense it. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 24:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Sa1 23:21, Sa1 26:25; Jdg 17:2; Psa 18:20; Pro 25:21, Pro 25:22 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 24:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"If a man meet with his enemy, will he send him (let him go) in peace?" This sentence is to be regarded as a question, which requires a negative reply, and expresses the thought: When a man meets with an enemy, he does not generally let him escape without injury. But thou hast acted very differently towards me. This thought is easily supplied from the context, and what follows attaches itself to this: "The Lord repay thee good for what thou hast done to me this day." 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 24:20”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification