Chapter 8: The Cave

After Saul dealt with the Philistine raid, someone told him where David had gone. David was in the wilderness of En Gedi. Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went after him.

Along the way, Saul came to a cave by the side of the road and went inside to relieve himself. He had no idea that David and his men were already deep inside that same cave, hidden in the darkness.

David's men saw Saul enter. They leaned close and whispered.

DAVID'S MEN“This is the day the Lord spoke of when He said, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'”— 1 Samuel 24:4

David rose. He moved silently through the darkness toward Saul. He drew close enough to reach him. And with his blade, he cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

Then something happened. The text says David's heart struck him. (1 Samuel 24:5).

This was the king God had anointed over Israel. Whatever Saul had done to him, that anointing still meant something.

He went back to his men.

DAVID“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, that I should stretch out my hand against him, for he is the anointed of the Lord.”— 1 Samuel 24:6

David's men wanted Saul dead but David did not let them move. Saul finished what he came to do, stood up, and walked out of the cave. He never knew what had just happened in the dark.