Engedi

En Gedi's fame comes out of the story of David and King Saul. In I Sammuel 24 we are told that Saul was looking to take David's life. David and his men go up into the mountain of En Gedi to hide from Saul. God has told David that the time would come that, "his enemy would be given into his hands to do as he thought best." In this case David and his men find this place of solace. They hide deep in the recesses of the mountain. Saul brings 3000 men from Jerusalem to find and kill David. They are combing the mountain. Saul needs to "relieve himself" and goes into the very cave in which David is hiding. David's men see this as David's chance to end the conflict. David thinks about it and sneaks up behind Saul and cuts off the corner of his cloak. David then returns to his men. He tells them that after much thought he knows Saul to be God's anointed King. He believes it is not his right to harm him. He convinces them to leave Saul alone. King Saul later leaves the cave. As he is descending the mountain David calls out to him and shows him the corner of his cloak. He pledges to Saul that he will not, and does not want to, harm the anointed of God. He tells him that surely this should convince Saul that there is no need to hunt him down. David assures him that he is not, and never will be, a threat to Saul or his Kingdom. This could be the very pool of water that David drank from and bathed in while hiding from King Saul.