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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Samuel 24:2

1After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 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. 3At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! 4“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem 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 selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.
• Psalms 37:32The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.
• Psalms 38:12Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me. Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me. All day long they plan their treachery.
• Psalms 104:18High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.
• Psalms 141:6When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.

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