Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 24:11

"Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it." — 1 Samuel 24:11 (ASV)

My father.—This is not used in the sense of "my father-in-law." The Princess Michal before this time probably had been given to Phalti. The time when Saul carried out this wicked act is left quite indefinite in the notice of 1 Samuel 25:44; but the relations between David and Saul were evidently far more bitter before than after the En-gedi incident. Therefore, the probability that Michal was given to Phalti before this meeting is great.

The expression "my father" simply conveys the reverence (pietas) of the young to the old—of the loyal subject to the sovereign. It is so used in the beautiful lines of Browning already quoted.

See the skirt of your robe.—Doubtless at this juncture, he was holding up the piece of the royal m’il he had so carefully cut off when the king was sleeping in fancied security. "See this, how near you were to death had I been pleased to take your life when I cut this off."