1. Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2. So Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the mountain goats.
3. When he came across the sheepfolds along the way where there was a cave, Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were already sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
4. So David’s men said to him, “Look, it’s the day Adonai spoke to you about, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, so you may do to him as seems good in your eyes.’” Then David crept and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe stealthily.
5. But afterward, David’s conscience bothered him for cutting off the edge of Saul’s robe.
6. So he said to his fellow men, “Adonai forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, Adonai’s anointed, stretching out my hand against him—for he is Adonai’s anointed.”
7. So David persuaded his fellow men with these words and did not let them rise against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.