1 Samuel 24 · Verse 1

1 Samuel 24:1

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.
1 Samuel 24:1, King James Version

1 Samuel 24:1 in other translations

BSBAfter Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
WEBWhen Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, ‘Lo, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.'
DARBYAnd it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
BBENow when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told to him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

What does 1 Samuel 24:1 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Saul is informed that David is at En-gedi, and goes to seek him with three thousand men, 1Sam 24:1, 1Sam 24:2. He goes into a cave to repose, where David and his men lay hid; who, observing this, exhort David to take away his life: David refuses, and contents himself with privily cutting off Saul's skirt, 1Sam 24:3-7. When Saul departed, not knowing what was done, David called after him; showed him that his life had been in his power; expostulates strongly with him; and appeals to God, the Judge of his innocence, 1Sam 24:8-15. Saul confesses David's uprightness, acknowledges his obligation to him for sparing his life; and causes him to swear that, when he should come to the kingdom, he would not destroy his seed, 1Sam 24:17-21. Saul returns home, and David and his men stay in the hold, 1Sam 24:22. Verse 1 Saul 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 24:1-7
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. He not only would not do this bad thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it. Thus he rendered good for evil, to him from whom he received evil for good; and was herein an example to all who are called Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 24:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ka.'a.Sherjust whenH834
שָׁ֣בshavhe returnedH7725
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖יme.'a.cha.Reifrom afterH310
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
וַיַּגִּ֤דוּvai.ya.Gi.duand people toldH5046
לוֹ֙loto <the> him
לֵאמֹ֔רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehthere!H2009
דָוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
בְּמִדְבַּ֖רbe.mid.Bar[is] in [the] wilderness ofH4057
עֵ֥ין'einEnH5872
גֶּֽדִי\׃\ \סGe.diGediH5872

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 24:1

  • 1 Samuel 23:28-29

    Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela–hammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En–gedi.

  • Proverbs 29:12

    If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

  • Hosea 7:3

    They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

  • 1 Samuel 23:19

    Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

  • Ezekiel 22:9

    In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

  • Proverbs 25:5

    Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David, in a cave at En-gedi, having cut off Saul's skirt, spares his life.
8 He shews thereby his innocency.
16 Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs.

when Saul.
23:28,29
following. Heb. after. it was told.
23:19; Pr 25:5; 29:12; Eze 22:9; Ho 7:3
the wilderness.
23:29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 24:1

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 24:2

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel 24:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		ENTONCES David subió de allí, y habitó en los parajes fuertes en Engaddi.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et David monta de là, et habita dans les lieux forts d’En-Guédi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David zog von dannen hinauf und blieb auf den Bergfesten von Engedi.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ascendit ergo David inde: et habitavit in locis tutissimis Engaddi.