So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
"The verb ’cut off’ forms something of a recurring theme, a leit-motiv, in 1 Samuel 20-24." [Note: Baldwin, p. 146. Cf. 15:28; 20:14-17; 24:4.] 