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1 Samuel 24 · a question people ask

Saul wept and said, "You are more righteous than I" (24:17). Did he change?

In the text

In this chapter he says true things. "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you" (24:17). "I know that you will surely be king" (24:20). The chapter doesn't say what was in his heart. It ends with the two men going different ways: "Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold" (24:22). David doesn't go home with him. Two chapters later, Saul goes out again "having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph" (26:2), the same number as here (24:2). Chapter 26 tells what happened then.

The verses

“He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.”
1 Samuel 24:17 · World English Bible
“Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.”
1 Samuel 24:20 · World English Bible
“David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
1 Samuel 24:22 · World English Bible
“Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.”
1 Samuel 26:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24: The skirt of his robe

David had Saul in his hand and cut off only the skirt of his robe, and even that struck his heart (24:4-5). He twice said "my hand will not be on you" (24:12-13), close to the words Saul had once said about David (18:17), and left the judging to the LORD. Then Saul said it himself: "I know that you will surely be king" (24:20).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions