Ein Gedi in the Torah
עין גדי
A desert oasis near the Dead Sea where David hid from King Saul in the wilderness caves. The dramatic story of David sparing Saul's life in the cave at Ein Gedi is one of the most poignant episodes of mercy in the Tanakh. The Song of Songs compares the beloved to a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Ein Gedi — a place of unexpected beauty in a barren landscape.
Sarah Murray from South Bend, IN, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0)
DimaGalin (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Key Verses
5 selected passages mentioning Ein Gedi
Fishermen shall stand beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim
וְהָיָה֩ (יעמדו) [עָמְד֨וּ] עָלָ֜יו דַּוָּגִ֗ים מֵעֵ֥ין גֶּ֙דִי֙ וְעַד־עֵ֣ין עֶגְלַ֔יִם מִשְׁט֥וֹחַ לַחֲרָמִ֖ים יִֽהְי֑וּ לְמִינָהֿ֙ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה דְגָתָ֔ם כִּדְגַ֛ת הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל רַבָּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
Fishermen shall stand beside it all the way from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it shall be a place for drying nets; and the fish will be of various kinds [and] most plentiful, like the fish of the Great Sea.
Saul pursues David in the wilderness of En-gedi
וַיַּ֥עַל דָּוִ֖ד מִשָּׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בִּמְצָד֥וֹת עֵֽין־גֶּֽדִי׃ {ס}
David went from there and stayed in the wildernesses of En-gedi.
David cuts off the corner of Saul's robe in the cave
וַ֠יָּבֹ֠א אֶל־גִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אן עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם מְעָרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְהָסֵ֣ךְ אֶת־רַגְלָ֑יו וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמְּעָרָ֖ה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃
and he came to the sheepfolds along the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.bto relieve himself Lit. “to cover his feet.” Now David and his men were sitting in the back of the cave.
My beloved is a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi
אֶשְׁכֹּ֨ל הַכֹּ֤פֶר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בְּכַרְמֵ֖י עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ {ס}
My beloved to me is a spray of henna bloomsFrom the vineyards of En-gedi.
1 more verses mention Ein Gedi across the Tanakh
Israel Wall Art
