1 Samuel 24:7

1Sa 24:7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.

Ver. 7. So David stayed his servants.] Dispescuit, diffidit: He staved them off, when they rose from both sides of the cave to lay violent hands upon Saul; and this was a greater victory, saith Chrysostom, than that he once got over Goliath, because now he overcame himself, and manfully repressed his unruly soldiers with a word in season.

But Saul rose up out of the cave.] Little thinking how near he had been to a mischief, and how easily he might have died before his time; {Ecc 7:17} that is, than when it had been better for him to have done anything than have died. See Ecc 9:12.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa 24:7-8. And suffered them not to rise against Saul — He not only would not do this ill thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it. Thus did he render good for evil to him, from whom he had received evil for good; and was herein both a type of Christ, who saved his persecutors, and an example to all Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good. David also went out of the cave, and cried after Saul — A bold attempt this, to adventure to come into the presence of such an enraged enemy. But his innocence, and confidence in God, imboldened him, especially having so strong an evidence to give of his integrity.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 7. Suffered them not to rise against Saul.] As he could restrain them, it was his duty to do so; had he connived at their killing him, David would have been the murderer. In praying for the king we call God the only Ruler of princes, for this simple reason, that their authority is the highest among men, and next to that of God himself; hence he alone is above them. We find this sentiment well expressed by an elegant poet: -

Regum timendorum in proprios greges,

Reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis.

HORACE, Odar. lib. iii., Od. i., ver. 5.

Kings are supreme over their own subjects;

Jove is supreme over kings themselves.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

7. stayed] Lit. tore, or lashed: a strong expression. Vulg. “confregit viros suos sermonibus.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So David stayed his servants with these words,.... Or pacified them, as the Targum, and made them quiet and easy in that he had not slain him, and reconciled their minds to his conduct, and restrained them from laying hands on him, by observing to them, that he was the anointed of the Lord:

and suffered them not to rise against Saul; to take away his life; he not only argued with them, but laid his commands on them that they should not slay him:

but Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way; he rose from his sleep, and went out of the cave unhurt, and proceeded on in the way he came to the sheepcotes, and which led on further, Sa1 24:3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Anointed. He was chosen by God, and to be judge by him. (Calmet) --- Reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis. (Horace) --- David was not to mount the throne, till Saul was removed, by God’s ordinance. (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Stayed his servants, Heb. cut, or clave, or divided, or cut them off. The word notes both the eagerness and violence of David’s men in prosecuting their desire, and David’s resoluteness in opposing them, as it were, by force; wherein he shows great piety, and generosity, and loyalty to Saul.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

7. David stayed his servants — Literally, He split them. Vulgate: confregit; he broke them to pieces. The idea is, that by his words he completely nonplussed them, so as to check their furious desire to make an end of Saul.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He said to his men, "[Adonoy] forbid." These two verses are not written in sequence; but since he began to speak regarding the cutting of the robe, he finished everything concerning it, and he said that he even regretted cutting the robe. Afterwards, he returns to the first subject, and says that regarding his men's comments, "Behold, concerning this day, etc." He replied to them, 'May Adonoy forbid that, etc.'

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.