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Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

1 Samuel 24:1

After Saul had chased the Philistines away, people told him, "David is in the desert area near En Gedi."

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.
Darby Translation
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.
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 After Saul had chased the Philistines away, people told him, "David is in the desert area near En Gedi." 2 So Saul chose 3000 men from all over Israel and began searching for David and his men. They looked near Wild Goat Rocks. 3 Saul came to some sheep pens beside the road. There was a cave near there, so Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were deep inside that same cave. 4 David's men told him, "This is day the Lord told you about when he said, ‘I will give your enemy to you, and you can do whatever you want to him.'" So David crawled closer and closer to Saul and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Saul didn't notice what happened. 5 Later, David felt bad about what he did. 6 He said to his men, "I pray the Lord never lets me do anything like that to my master again. I must not do anything against Saul, because he is the Lord 's chosen king." 7 David said these things to stop his men. He would not let his men hurt Saul. Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 Later, David came out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" Saul looked back. David bowed with his face to the ground to show his respect.

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
I will build a great nation from you. I will bless you and make your name famous. People will use your name to bless other people.
Genesis 13:2
At this time Abram was very rich. He had many animals and much silver and gold.
Genesis 18:11
Abraham and Sarah were very old. Sarah was past the right age for women to have children.
Genesis 21:5
Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.
Genesis 24:1
Abraham lived to be a very old man. The Lord blessed him and everything he did.
Genesis 24:3
Now I want you to make a promise to me. Promise to me before the Lord , the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry a girl from Canaan. We live among these people, but don't let him marry a Canaanite girl.
Genesis 24:35
The Lord has greatly blessed my master in everything. My master has become a great man. The Lord has given him many flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. He has much silver and gold and many servants. He has many camels and donkeys.
Genesis 25:20
When Isaac was 40 years old, he married Rebekah. Rebekah was from Paddan Aram. She was Bethuel's daughter and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
Genesis 49:25
the God of your father who helps you. May God All-Powerful bless you and give you blessings from the sky above and from the deep below. May he give you blessings from breast and womb.
1 Kings 1:1
King David was very old and could not keep warm. His servants covered him with blankets, but he was still cold.

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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