After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Who is the king of Israel chasing? Who are you pursuing? Just a dead dog, just a flea.
David is asking King Saul why he's wasting his time hunting down someone as insignificant and harmless as himself.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 1 Samuel, King Saul is pursuing David, who has been secretly anointed as the future king of Israel and is fleeing to avoid Saul's jealousy and wrath. This scene takes place in a cave at En Gedi, where David has the opportunity to kill Saul but instead shows restraint, using this verse to humbly question why Saul is chasing him. David compares himself to a dead dog and a flea to emphasize his own insignificance and harmlessness in the eyes of the powerful king.
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