1It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
3He came to the sheep pens by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul`s robe secretly.
5It happened afterward, that David`s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul`s skirt.
6He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh`s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh`s anointed.
7So David checked his men with these words, and didn`t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
