Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 24:2
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
The rocks of the wild goats – To signify the craggy precipitous character of the country.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Rocks of the wild goats.] The original ( tsurey haiyeelim) is variously understood. The VULGATE makes a paraphrase: Super abruptissimas petras quae solis ibicibus perviae sunt; “On the most precipitous rocks over which the ibexes alone can travel.” The TARGUM: the caverns of the rocks. The SEPTUAGINT make the original a proper name; for out of tsurey haiyeelim, they make Saddaiem, and in some copies Aeiamein, which are evidently corruptions of the Hebrew.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which the wild goats use to delight and climb into. These very rocks are exceeding steep, and full of precipices, and dangerous to travellers, as an eye-witness hath left upon record. And yet Saul was so transported with rage, as to venture himself and his army here, that he might take David, who, as he thought, would judge himself safe, and therefore be secure in such inaccessible places.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Saul . . . went . . . to seekDavid . . . upon the rocks of the wild goatsNothing but theblind infatuation of fiendish rage could have led the king to pursuehis outlawed son-in-law among those craggy and perpendicularprecipices, where were inaccessible hiding places. The large force hetook with him seemed to give him every prospect of success. But theoverruling providence of God frustrated all his vigilance.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel,…. Out of his army, with which he had been pursuing the Philistines:
and went to seek David, and his men, upon the rocks of the wild goats; which were in the wilderness of Engedi; those rocks were exceeding high and terrible to look at, full of precipices, and so prominent, that to travellers they seemed as if they would fall into the adjacent valleys, that it even struck terror into them to look at them x; called the rocks of wild goats, because these creatures, called from hence “rupicaprae”, or rock goats, see Job 39:1; delighted to be there; and are, as Pliny y says, of such prodigious swiftness, that they will leap from mountain to mountain, and back again at pleasure; these mountains David and his men chose for safety, and the height and craggedness of them did not deter Saul and his men from seeking him there.
x Adrichom Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 47. & Brocard. in ib. y Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 53.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Three thousand chosen men.This large and carefully selected force is an indication how thoroughly impressed Saul was with the power of David at this juncture. He, indeed, evidently looked on him as a rival king, who must be met by a numerous and disciplined force.
Upon the rocks of the wild goats.Ibex rocks, so called because probably only these ibexes, the chamois of Syria, would find pasturage on them. Some have suggested that this was a proper name. The ibex is still found among the precipitous cliffs in the neighbourhood of Ain-jedy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. The rocks of the wild goats Dr. Robinson thus speaks of his travels in this region: “As we now came in view of the ravine of the Wady Ghar a mountain goat started up and bounded along the face of the rocks on the opposite side. Indeed, we were now in the wilderness of En-gedi, where David and his men lived among ‘the rocks of the wild goats,’ and where the former cut off the skirts of Saul’s robe in a cave. The whole scene is drawn to the life. On all sides the country is full of caverns, which might then serve as lurking places for David and his men, as they do for outlaws at the present day.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Ver. 2. Upon the rocks of the wild goats. ] Per rupes rupicaprarum: where they ventured their necks at every step almost, so steep and craggy were those cliffs. The wild goats hanging on them, and sometimes falling down, are said to pitch upon their horns without hurt. a
a Plin., lib. viii. cap. 53.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
his men. Hebrew ‘enosh. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Saul took: 1Sa 13:2
and went: Psa 37:32, Psa 38:12
the rocks: Psa 104:18, Psa 141:6
Reciprocal: 1Sa 26:2 – three thousand 2Ki 6:14 – sent he thither horses Job 39:1 – the wild Psa 17:11 – compassed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 24:2. Upon the rocks of the wild goats Which the wild goats used to delight in and climb over. These same rocks are exceeding steep, and full of precipices, and dangerous to travellers, as an eye-witness hath left upon record. And yet Saul was so transported with rage as to venture himself and his army here, that he might take David, who, as he thought, would judge himself safe, and therefore be secure in such inaccessible places.