Cave of Adullam
The Cave of Adullam is an ancient hideout mentioned in the Old Testament, near the town of Adullam. It is usually called a cave, though some translations use the word fortress.
Scholars say the name Adullam probably means a hiding place or retreat. Some connect it to a word meaning “turn aside.”
David, who would become king, hid there from King Saul. He and his men refused to harm Saul, even when a chance showed up. They believed God had chosen David to be king, and he would not use unethical means to take the throne.
God helped and blessed David for his upright choices, and he and his followers became known across Israel for their courage.
Today, the phrase Cave of Adullam is used to describe a small, out-of-power group that plans to return to power.
In the 1814 novel Waverley, a Jacobite leader compares new recruits to David’s followers at Adullam: people who are in distress, in debt, or discontent.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:45 (CET).