Place Old Testament
Wildgoats Rocks
Also known as Wildgoats', Rocks =ESV; Crags of, the Wild Goats =NIV; rocks of, wild goats =KJV
Wildgoats Rocks, a rugged area near En Gedi where David hid from Saul and had the opportunity to spare the king's life (1Sam. 24:2). Mentioned once in Scripture, at 1 Samuel 24:2.
Why it matters. A place near En Gedi where David hid from Saul
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.462, 35.392 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Wildgoats Rocks
Wildgoats Rocks is a location mentioned in 1Sa.24.2 as a place where David and his men sought refuge while fleeing from King Saul. The area is described as being near En Gedi, a lush oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Saul, having returned from pursuing the Philistines, took 3,000 chosen men to search for David and his men in the Wildgoats Rocks region. While Saul was in a cave relieving himself, David had the opportunity to cut off a corner of the king's robe, demonstrating his loyalty and respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. The rugged terrain of Wildgoats Rocks provided numerous hiding places for David and his men, making it difficult for Saul to locate them. The name "Wildgoats Rocks" likely refers to the rugged, steep cliffs in the area, which are suitable habitats for wild goats. This incident in the Wildgoats Rocks demonstrates David's integrity and faith in God's plan for his life, as he refused to harm Saul, even when presented with the opportunity.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
1 Samuel (1 verse)