It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.
"David's heart smote him"  (1 Samuel 24:5).  David's great respect for the person of "the Lord's anointed" resulted in his conscience hurting from this `disrespect' of Saul, whose authority over Israel David still honored, and against whom David had never done anything whatsoever.