1st Samuel Chapter 24 verse 14 Holy Bible
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
read chapter 24 in ASV
There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
read chapter 24 in BBE
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
read chapter 24 in DARBY
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
read chapter 24 in KJV
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
read chapter 24 in WBT
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
read chapter 24 in WEB
`After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? -- after a dead dog! after one flea!
read chapter 24 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 14, 15. - Finally, David makes a pathetic appeal to Saul, contrasting him in his grandeur as the king of Israel with the fugitive whom he so relentlessly persecuted. In calling himself a dead dog he implies that he was at once despicable and powerless. Even more insignificant is a flea, Hebrew, "one flea," "a single flea." The point is lost by omitting the numeral. David means that it is unworthy of a king to go forth with 3000 men to hunt a single flea. As the king's conduct is thus both unjust and foolish, David therefore appeals to Jehovah to be judge and plead his cause, i.e. be his advocate, and state the proofs of his innocence. For deliver me out of thy hand, the Hebrew is, "will judge me out of thy hand," i.e. will judge me, and by doing so justly will deliver me from thy power.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) After a dead dog, after a flea.--These homely but vivid similes are very common in Oriental discourse. David certainly, in his protestations of loyalty, could scarcely humble himself more than by drawing a comparison between the king of Israel in his grandeur and power and a poor dead dog--evidently an object held in special loathing by the Hebrews. "After a flea"--the original is even stronger, after "one flea" (a single flea)--"against a single flea," which is not easily caught, and easily escapes, and if it is caught, is poor game for a royal hunter.--Berl. Bible and Lange.
