1 Samuel 24:1

1 Samuel 24:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En–gedi.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.

Context of 1 Samuel 24:1

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2So 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. 3He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.

1 Samuel 24:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁ֣ב שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• was returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• that it was toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Behold, Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• of En–gediעֵין גֶּ֫דִי‛êyn gedîy · EngediH5872

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 24:1

• 1 Samuel 23:28Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.
• 1 Samuel 23:19The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?
• Proverbs 25:5remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
• Proverbs 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
• Ezekiel 22:9In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts.
• Hosea 7:3“They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
• 1 Samuel 23:29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Saul was returned - It is very probable that it was only a small marauding party that had made an excursion in the Israelitish borders, and this invasion was soon suppressed.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David spares Saul's life. (1-7) David shows his innocence. (8-15) Saul acknowledges his fault. (16-22) Verses 1-7 God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, against doing Saul any hurt. Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and to resist temptations thereto…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 24:1

• Saul
• Self-Control

In the dictionaries

• David
• Philistines
• Saul
• En-Gedi
• Paul, Saul
• Judah, Tribe of
• Reward
• Wilderness
• Desert
• Flea

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