2 When Saul returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, he was told that David was in the desert near Engedi.
3 So Saul took three thousand of the best men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags.
4 When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
5 David’s servants said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you: I will deliver your enemy into your hand; do with him as you see fit.” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe.
6 Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s robe.
7 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”
8 With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way.