Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 24:14

"After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea." — 1 Samuel 24:14 (ASV)

After a dead dog, after a flea. —These simple but vivid similes are very common in Eastern discourse. David certainly, in his protestations of loyalty, could hardly 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.