Old TestamentBeginner II · Story 131 Samuel 24:1-22

In the Cave

Saul takes three thousand men to seek David and goes into a cave where David and his men are staying. David cuts off a corner of Saul's clothing, but he spares Saul. Outside the cave David speaks to the king, and Saul answers with tears. Read the story in simple English.

Start this storyStory + 4 lessons · ~41 min · free

Two men stand face to face on a rocky hillside in front of a cave, and one of them holds up a small piece of cloth

The words in this story

11 words you will really use: they appear in the story and in the exercises, and come back for review in the next stories.

cave
a large hole in the side of a hill, where a person can go in
noun
wickedness
the very bad things that people do
noun
kingdom
the land and the people ruled by a king
noun
seek
to look for someone or something
verb
since
because; for the reason that
conjunction
moreover
also, and more than that; a word that adds one more thing
adverb
judge
to decide who is right and who is wrong between two sides
verb
righteous
good and right in what you do
adjective
declare
to say or show something clearly and openly, so that others know it
verb
deal
to act toward someone in a certain way, good or bad
verb
establish
to make something strong and sure, so that it will stay
verb

What you'll discover

The moments of the story, in the order they happen.

Saul goes after David with three thousand men and goes into a cave where David and his men are.
David's men say that this is the day. David cuts a corner of Saul's clothing and keeps them back.
David goes out, calls to the king, and says that some urged him to kill Saul but he spared him.
Saul weeps, says that David is more righteous than he is, and says that David dealt well with him.
Saul says that David will be king, asks him to swear by the LORD, and goes home.

Original verse

The verse that closes the story, in the World English Bible. After 4 lessons, this is how you read it: the real text, with nothing simplified.

1 Samuel 24:17 · WEB

He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

Context

One detail about the scene, with the work it comes from.

The world of the story

Who poured oil on Saul's head? 1 Samuel 10:1 says that Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it on his head.

Source: World English Bible · Public domain

What a story looks like

First the whole story, in simple English with audio for every sentence. Then 4 short lessons, each with a piece of the story, a tip and exercises. At the end, the Bible verse and a little celebration.

The story · 19 sentences, with the meaning of each word on tap, 3 quick questions about the story
4 lessons · a piece of the story, a tip and exercises in each one
The original verse · the Bible text, unadapted, then the next story

Questions about this story

Which Bible passage is this story from?

1 Samuel 24:1 to 22, in the World English Bible.

Where does the story happen?

David is in the wilderness of En Gedi, and the cave is by the sheep pens near the way (1 Samuel 24:1-3).

What does David do in the cave?

He cuts off the skirt of Saul's robe, and he does not allow his men to rise against Saul (1 Samuel 24:4-7).

What does David tell Saul?

He says that some urged him to kill Saul, but he spared him, and he asks the LORD to judge between them (1 Samuel 24:10-12).

What does Saul say to David?

Saul says that David is more righteous than he is, and that David will surely be king (1 Samuel 24:17-20).

How close is it to the Bible?

It follows 1 Samuel 24:1 to 22 in order, in short sentences. It leaves out David's bow in verse 8, his heart striking him in verse 5, and parts of the speeches. The real verses at the end are 1 Samuel 24:17, 24:12 and 24:6.

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