1 Samuel 23:21

And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

And Saul {H7586} said {H559}, Blessed {H1288} be ye of the LORD {H3068}; for ye have compassion {H2550} on me.

Sha'ul said, "May ADONAI bless you for showing me compassion

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.

Commentary

Context

This verse is set during a tense period when King Saul, consumed by jealousy and paranoia, is relentlessly hunting David, whom he views as a rival to his throne. David, though anointed by God as the next king, is a fugitive, constantly on the run from Saul's forces. In 1 Samuel 23, David and his men are hiding in the wilderness of Ziph. The Ziphites, inhabitants of that region, betray David's location to Saul, promising to deliver him into the king's hands. Saul, upon receiving this news, is overjoyed and expresses his gratitude to the Ziphites, viewing their actions as an act of loyalty and "compassion" towards him. This particular verse, 1 Samuel 23:21, captures Saul's immediate, self-serving reaction to this betrayal of David, an event that occurs again later in 1 Samuel 26:1.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Saul's Distorted Perception: Saul's statement "ye have compassion on me" reveals his profound spiritual and moral blindness. He interprets the Ziphites' betrayal of an innocent man (David) as an act of kindness towards himself, highlighting his self-pity and obsession with maintaining power. His perspective is completely inverted from God's righteous judgment.
  • Misplaced Loyalty and Betrayal: The Ziphites demonstrate loyalty to Saul, the reigning king, but at the cost of betraying David, who was God's chosen one and had done them no harm. This act of informing on David is a clear example of treachery for personal gain or favor.
  • The Irony of a Blessing: Saul invokes a blessing from the LORD ("Blessed be ye of the LORD") upon those who are facilitating an unrighteous act. This underscores the extent to which Saul had drifted from understanding God's character and will. A true blessing from the LORD would not endorse actions aimed at harming an innocent person.
  • Divine Providence Amidst Peril: Despite Saul's relentless pursuit and the betrayal by the Ziphites, God's protection over David is evident throughout this narrative. This event, though dangerous, ultimately serves to highlight God's faithfulness in preserving His anointed one, as seen in David's subsequent narrow escape.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "compassion" here is chamal (חמל), which means to pity, spare, or have compassion. Saul's use of this word is deeply ironic. The Ziphites were not showing true compassion in the biblical sense, which typically involves mercy, kindness, and relief for the suffering (e.g., Proverbs 19:17). Instead, they were aiding Saul in his unjust persecution of David, thereby causing more suffering. Saul's declaration, "Blessed [be] ye of the LORD" (b'rukhim attem la'adonai), is a formal blessing, but its application here is perverse, revealing the king's spiritual decline.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • Beware of Self-Deception: Saul's inability to see his own sin and his twisted view of "compassion" serve as a warning. We must regularly examine our motives and actions against God's Word, ensuring our perspective aligns with His truth, not our desires or biases.
  • Discerning True Compassion: True compassion aligns with God's justice and mercy. It seeks to alleviate suffering and promote righteousness, not to enable injustice or harm. We are called to embody the kind of compassion exemplified by Christ (e.g., Matthew 9:36).
  • God's Unfailing Protection: Even when surrounded by enemies and betrayed by others, those who walk with God can trust in His sovereign protection. David's story repeatedly demonstrates that God preserves His chosen ones despite formidable opposition.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 22:8 (5 votes)

    That all of you have conspired against me, and [there is] none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and [there is] none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

  • Psalms 10:3 (2 votes)

    For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.

  • Isaiah 66:5 (2 votes)

    ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

  • Judges 17:2 (2 votes)

    And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver [is] with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed [be thou] of the LORD, my son.

  • Micah 3:11 (2 votes)

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.