I Samuel 24

שמואל א׳ פרק כ״ד

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 24 of 31 | Day: 69 of 742

Date: April 21, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

The encounter in the cave at En-gedi stands as one of the most morally charged scenes in all of Tanakh. David, hunted relentlessly by a king who seeks his life, finds himself in the one situation that every fugitive dreams of — his pursuer utterly vulnerable, alone and unaware, in the darkness of a cave where David and his men are already hiding. Saul enters the cave “to cover his feet” (להסך את רגליו), a euphemism for relieving himself, and in that moment of complete exposure, the entire question of David’s character is put to the test. David’s men interpret the coincidence as providential — “This is the day of which God said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hands’” — yet David refuses to read the moment as divine permission for violence. Instead, he performs an act of extraordinary symbolic restraint: he cuts the corner of Saul’s robe (כנף מעיל שאול) and nothing more.

What makes this episode so psychologically penetrating is David’s immediate regret even for this minor act. The text says “David’s heart struck him” (ויך לב דוד אתו) — his conscience reproached him for the mere cutting of the garment. Rashi explains that David understood the robe’s corner to carry symbolic weight; the act of cutting it was a form of diminishing the king’s dignity, a subtle assault on the royal person even without physical harm. Radak elaborates that David feared this act might be interpreted as a sign of disrespect toward the institution of monarchy itself, and that even a symbolic violation of the king’s person was a transgression against the sanctity of anointed authority (משיח ה׳). The depth of David’s moral sensitivity is precisely what distinguishes him from every other political figure in the narrative — he does not merely refrain from killing Saul; he agonizes over having come even close to dishonoring him.

David’s subsequent speech to Saul outside the cave is a masterpiece of moral rhetoric. He holds up the cut corner of the robe as evidence — proof that he had the power to kill and chose not to exercise it. His argument rests on a theological principle: “May God judge between me and you” (ישפט ה׳ ביני ובינך). David refuses to take justice into his own hands, insisting that vengeance belongs to God alone. He invokes the ancient proverb “Wickedness comes from the wicked” (מרשעים יצא רשע) to declare that his refusal to act violently is itself proof of his righteousness. Metzudat David notes that David’s appeal is designed not merely to persuade Saul but to establish a public record — before God and before witnesses — that David harbors no treasonous intent.

Saul’s response is perhaps the most revealing moment of his tragic arc. He weeps, addresses David as “my son” (בני דוד), and confesses outright: “You are more righteous than I” (צדיק אתה ממני). He even acknowledges what the entire narrative has been building toward — “I know now that you will become king, and that the kingship over Israel will remain in your hands” (כא). Yet Saul’s recognition changes nothing structurally; he will resume his pursuit. This is the paradox of Saul’s character: he can perceive the truth clearly in moments of emotional clarity, yet he cannot sustain that clarity against the paranoia and jealousy that consume him. His request that David swear to preserve his descendants reveals both genuine paternal feeling and a realistic assessment of ancient Near Eastern succession politics, where a new dynasty typically eliminated the old.

The chapter thus functions as a profound meditation on the nature of legitimate power and the moral restraint that must accompany it. David demonstrates that fitness for kingship is proven not by the capacity to seize power but by the willingness to wait for it, trusting in divine timing rather than human opportunity. The cave at En-gedi becomes a kind of moral crucible: in the darkness underground, where no one would have known what happened, David’s character is tested and proven. The Talmud (Berakhot 62b) draws from this episode the lesson that even in the most private moments, a person’s true nature is revealed. David emerges from the cave not as a conqueror but as a man who has conquered himself — and that, the narrative suggests, is the truest qualification for the throne of Israel.

פרק כ״ד · Chapter 24

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֥עַל דָּוִ֖ד מִשָּׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בִּמְצָד֥וֹת עֵֽין־גֶּֽדִי׃ {ס}        

English:

David went from there and stayed in the wildernesses of En-gedi.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁ֣ב שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ {ס}        

English:

When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֣ח שָׁא֗וּל שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ בָּח֖וּר מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עַל־פְּנֵ֖י צוּרֵ֥י הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃

English:

So Saul took three thousand of the best troops from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the rocks of the wild goats;ain the direction of the rocks of the wild goats Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַ֠יָּבֹ֠א אֶל־גִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אן עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם מְעָרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְהָסֵ֣ךְ אֶת־רַגְלָ֑יו וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמְּעָרָ֖ה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃

English:

and he came to the sheepfolds along the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.bto relieve himself Lit. “to cover his feet.” Now David and his men were sitting in the back of the cave.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

ו��יֹּאמְרוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י דָוִ֜ד אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה הַיּ֜וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־אָמַ֧ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֵלֶ֗יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י נֹתֵ֤ן אֶת־[אֹֽיִבְךָ֙] (איביך) בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יִטַ֣ב בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וַיָּ֣קׇם דָּוִ֗ד וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־כְּנַֽף־הַמְּעִ֥יל אֲשֶׁר־לְשָׁא֖וּל בַּלָּֽט׃

English:

David’s men said to him, “This is the day of which GOD said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hands; you can do with him as you please.’” cVv. 5b–6 read well after 8a. David went and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֥ךְ לֵב־דָּוִ֖ד אֹת֑וֹ עַ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֔ת אֶת־כָּנָ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃

English:

But afterward David reproached himselfdDavid reproached himself Lit. “David’s heart struck him.” for cutting off the corner of Saul’s cloak.ethe corner of Saul’s cloak So several mss. and ancient versions; cf. v. 5. Most mss. and editions read “Saul’s corner.”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו חָלִ֧ילָה לִּ֣י מֵיְהֹוָ֗ה אִם־אֶעֱשֶׂה֩ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֨ר הַזֶּ֤ה לַֽאדֹנִי֙ לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

English:

He said to his men, “GOD forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord—GOD’s anointed—that I should raise my hand against him; for he is GOD’s anointed.”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א נְתָנָ֖ם לָק֣וּם אֶל־שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֛וּל קָ֥ם מֵהַמְּ��ָרָ֖ה וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ {ס}        

English:

David rebukedfrebuked Meaning of Heb. uncertain. his men and did not permit them to attack Saul.Saul left the cave and started on his way.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֜ד אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּצֵא֙ (מן המערה) [מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֔ה] וַיִּקְרָ֧א אַחֲרֵי־שָׁא֛וּל לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּבֵּ֤ט שָׁאוּל֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּקֹּ֨ד דָּוִ֥ד אַפַּ֛יִם אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ {ס}        

English:

Then David also went out of the cave and called after Saul, “My lord king!” Saul looked around and David bowed low in homage, with his face to the ground.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל לָ֧מָּה תִשְׁמַ֛ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֶֽךָ׃

English:

And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say, ‘David is out to do you harm?’

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

הִנֵּה֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־נְתָנְךָ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ הַיּ֤וֹם ׀ בְּיָדִי֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְאָמַ֥ר לַהֲרָגְךָ֖ וַתָּ֣חׇס עָלֶ֑יךָ וָאֹמַ֗ר לֹֽא־אֶשְׁלַ֤ח יָדִי֙ בַּאדֹנִ֔י כִּֽי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

English:

You can see for yourself now that GOD delivered you into my hands in the cave today. And though I was urgedgI was urged Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to kill you, I showed you pity;hpity Understanding the Heb. as an ellipsis of wattaḥos ʻeni (cf., e.g., Deut. 7.16). for I said, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, since he is GOD’s anointed.’

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וְאָבִ֣י רְאֵ֔ה גַּ֗ם רְאֵ֛ה אֶת־כְּנַ֥ף מְעִֽילְךָ֖ בְּיָדִ֑י כִּ֡י בְּכׇרְתִי֩ אֶת־כְּנַ֨ף מְעִֽילְךָ֜ וְלֹ֣א הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ דַּ֤ע וּרְאֵה֙ כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין בְּיָדִ֜י רָעָ֤ה וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ וְלֹא־חָטָ֣אתִי לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֛ה צֹדֶ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃

English:

Please, sir,isir Lit. “[my] father,” cf. 2 Kings 5.13. take a close look at the corner of your cloak in my hand; for when I cut off the corner of your cloak, I did not kill you. You must see plainly that I have done nothing evil or rebellious, and I have never wronged you. Yet you are bent on taking my life.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט יְהֹוָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּנְקָמַ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

English:

May GOD judge between you and me! And may GOD take vengeance upon you for me; but my hand will never touch you.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאמַ֗ר מְשַׁל֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים יֵ֣צֵא רֶ֑שַׁע וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

English:

As the ancient proverb has it: ‘Wickedness comes from the wicked!’ My hand will never touch you.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

אַחֲרֵ֨י מִ֤י יָצָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַחֲרֵ֥י מִ֖י אַתָּ֣ה רֹדֵ֑ף אַֽחֲרֵי֙ כֶּ֣לֶב מֵ֔ת אַחֲרֵ֖י פַּרְעֹ֥שׁ אֶחָֽד׃

English:

Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וְהָיָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לְדַיָּ֔ן וְשָׁפַ֖ט בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְיֵ֙רֶא֙ וְיָרֵ֣ב אֶת־רִיבִ֔י וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃ {פ}

English:

May GOD be arbiter and judge between you and me! May [God] take note and uphold my cause, and vindicate me against you.”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת דָּוִ֗ד לְדַבֵּ֞ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הֲקֹלְךָ֥ זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיִּשָּׂ֥א שָׁא֛וּל קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

English:

When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul broke down and wept.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד צַדִּ֥יק אַתָּ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נִּי כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ גְּמַלְתַּ֣נִי הַטּוֹבָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י גְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָ הָרָעָֽה׃

English:

He said to David, “You are right, not I; for you have treated me generously, but I have treated you badly.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

(ואת) [וְאַתָּה֙] הִגַּ֣דְתָּ הַיּ֔וֹם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָה אִתִּ֖י טוֹבָ֑ה אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר סִגְּרַ֧נִי יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיָדְךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃

English:

Yes, you have just revealed how generously you treated me, for GOD delivered me into your hands and you did not kill me.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וְכִֽי־יִמְצָ֥א אִישׁ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְב֔וֹ וְשִׁלְּח֖וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ טוֹבָ֑ה וַֽיהֹוָה֙ יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֚חַת הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָה לִֽי׃

English:

If a man meets his enemy, does he let him go his way unharmed? Surely, GOD will reward you generously for what you have done for me this day.jwhat you have done for me this day Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “the generosity you have shown me.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י מָלֹ֖ךְ תִּמְל֑וֹךְ וְקָ֙מָה֙ בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ מַמְלֶ֖כֶת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

I know now that you will become king, and that the kingship over Israel will remain in your hands.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה אִם־תַּכְרִ֥ית אֶת־זַרְעִ֖י אַחֲרָ֑י וְאִם־תַּשְׁמִ֥יד אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י מִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

English:

So swear to me by GOD that you will not destroy my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע דָּוִ֖ד לְשָׁא֑וּל וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עָל֖וּ עַל־הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

David swore to Saul, Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the strongholds.

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