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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

The Darby Translation

1 Samuel 24:1

And 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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Saul;   Self-Control;   Thompson Chain Reference - En-Gedi;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Caves;   Deserts;   Rocks;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Engedi;   Right-Hand;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Palestine;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Judah, Tribe of;   Wilderness;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Desert;   Engedi;   Righteousness;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   En-Gedi;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Caves;   Engedi ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Engedi;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   En'-Gedi;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Desert;   En-Gedi;   Names, Proper;   Philistines;   Satan;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Engedi;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when Sha'ul was returned from following the Pelishtim, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of `En-Gedi.
King James Version
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 Engedi.
Lexham English Bible
When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
English Standard Version
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
New Century Version
After Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."
New English Translation
When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi."
Amplified Bible
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the Wilderness of Engedi."
New American Standard Bible
Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
Geneva Bible (1587)
When Saul was turned from ye Philistims, they told him, saying, Behold, Dauid is in the wildernes of En-gedi.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
Contemporary English Version
When Saul got back from fighting off the Philistines, he heard that David was in the desert around En-Gedi.
Complete Jewish Bible
From there David went up and lived in the strongholds of ‘Ein-Gedi.
Easy-to-Read Version
After Saul had chased the Philistines away, people told him, "David is in the desert area near En Gedi."
George Lamsa Translation
AND it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines that it was told him, saying, Behold. David is in Mizroth, which is in Gibaoth.
Good News Translation
When Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness near Engedi.
Literal Translation
And it happened, when Saul had returned from after the Philistines, they told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Saul came agayne from the Philistines, it was tolde him: Beholde, Dauid is in the wyldernes of Engaddi.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
When Saul was come againe fro folowing after ye Philistines, there were which told him, saying: Behold, Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engadi.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.'
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when Saul was returned from folowing the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, Dauid is in the wildernesse En-gedi.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David rose up from thence, and dwelt in the narrow passes of Engaddi.
English Revised Version
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.
Berean Standard Bible
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne Saul turnede ayen, aftir that he pursuede Filisteis, thei telden to hym, and seiden, Lo! Dauid is in the deseert of Engaddi.
Young's Literal Translation
And 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.'
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
Webster's Bible Translation
And 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.
World English Bible
It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
New King James Version
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
After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.
New Life Bible
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "See, David is in the desert of Engedi."
New Revised Standard
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Lo! David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(24-2) And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.
Revised Standard Version
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge'di."
THE MESSAGE
When Saul came back after dealing with the Philistines, he was told, "David is now in the wilderness of En Gedi." Saul took three companies—the best he could find in all Israel—and set out in search of David and his men in the region of Wild Goat Rocks. He came to some sheep pens along the road. There was a cave there and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were huddled far back in the same cave. David's men whispered to him, "Can you believe it? This is the day God was talking about when he said, ‘I'll put your enemy in your hands. You can do whatever you want with him.'" Quiet as a cat, David crept up and cut off a piece of Saul's royal robe.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."

Contextual Overview

1 And 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. 2 And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave. 4 And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly. 5 And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah. 7 And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way. 8 David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when Saul: 1 Samuel 23:28, 1 Samuel 23:29

following: Heb. after

it was told: 1 Samuel 23:19, Proverbs 25:5, Proverbs 29:12, Ezekiel 22:9, Hosea 7:3

the wilderness: 1 Samuel 23:29

Reciprocal: Song of Solomon 1:14 - Engedi Hebrews 11:38 - wandered

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
Genesis 13:2
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 18:11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old [and] advanced in age: it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Genesis 21:5
And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Genesis 24:1
And Abraham was old, [and] advanced in age; and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:3
and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth, that thou take not a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am dwelling;
Genesis 24:35
And Jehovah has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and bondmen and bondwomen, and camels and asses.
Genesis 25:20
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
Genesis 49:25
From the God of thy father, and he will help thee; And from the Almighty, and he will bless thee—With blessings of heaven from above, With blessings of the deep that lieth under, With blessings of the breast and of the womb.
1 Kings 1:1
And king David was old [and] advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines,.... Having, as it should seem, got the victory over them, and driven them out of his country, and pursued them to their own:

that it was told him, saying, behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi; in the strong holds of it, the high rocks and mountains in it, 1 Samuel 23:29.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXIV

Saul is informed that David is at En-gedi, and goes to seek him

with three thousand men, 1, 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, 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, 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,

17-21.

Saul returns home, and David and his men stay in the hold, 22.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIV

Verse 1 Samuel 24:1. 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.


 
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