Because of its barrenness and lack of inhabitants, the Judean wilderness was often used as a place of refuge. When fleeing from enraged King Saul, David found protection there, describing it as “a land dry and exhausted, where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 and superscription; 1 Samuel 23:29) For a time he hid out in a cave, perhaps like the Umm Qatafa Cave in Wadi Khareitun (a valley running from east of Bethlehem toward the Dead Sea). (Hebrews 11:32, 38) In this view from the cave, you can see in the lower right some black sheep foraging for scattered vegetation.

David was in a cave in the region of En-gedi when Saul entered to ease nature. Though David cut off the skirt of Saul’s coat, he would not harm “the anointed of Jehovah.” Later David called to Saul, maybe when the king was down amid the abundant foliage. (1 Samuel 24:1-22)

[Picture Credit Line on page 17]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.