1 Samuel 24:2

1 Samuel 24:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
• New International Version (NIV)So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

Context of 1 Samuel 24:2

1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

1 Samuel 24:2 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֣ח שָׁא֗וּל שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ בָּח֖וּר מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עַל־פְּנֵ֖י צוּרֵ֥י הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• out of all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• to seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• and his menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• uponפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the rocksצוּרtsûr tsûr · Rocks (of Goats)H6697
• of the wild goatsיָעֵלyâ‛êl · Wildgoats'H3277

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 24:2

• 1 Samuel 13:2Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent.
• Psalms 37:32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
• Psalms 38:12Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
• Psalms 104:18The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
• Psalms 141:6When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Rocks of the wild goats - The original (היעלים צורי tsurey haiyeelim ) is variously understood. The Vulgate makes a paraphrase: Super abruptissimas petras quae solis ibicibus perviae sunt; "On the most precipitous rocks over which the ibexes alone can travel." The Targum: the caverns of the rocks. The Septuagint make the original a proper name; for out of היעלים צרוי tsurey haiyeelim, they make Saddaiem, and in some copies Aeiamein, which are evidently…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The rocks of the wild goats - To signify the craggy precipitous character of the country.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2three thousand chosen men: David's force was outnumbered five to one (1 Samuel 23:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71Sa 24:1-7. David in a Cave at Engedi Cuts Off Saul's Skirt, but Spares His Life. 2. Saul ... went ... to seek David ... upon the rocks of the wild goats--Nothing but the blind infatuation of fiendish rage could have led the king to pursue his outlawed son-in-law among those craggy and perpendicular precipices, where were inaccessible hiding places. The large force he took with him seemed to give him every prospect of success. But the overruling…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 24:2

• Goat
• Saul
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Israel
• Saul
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Paul, Saul
• Army
• Goat
• Host
• Reward

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings