“With my voice I cry out to HaShem, with my voice I ask HaShem for a free gift” (Tehillim 104:2). With King Saul in hot pursuit, King David hid his 600 men in a cave. Confined to a relatively small area, there was no chance that King Saul would not locate King David’s hiding place.
Miraculously, a spider came and wove a web over the entrance of the cave in but a few minutes. Usually, spiders weave their webs very slowly. What was the catalyst that caused this wonder to take place?
King David learned from Moshe Rabenu that there is one prayer that HaShem will always accept — to supplicate to HaShem for a “free gift.”King David considered himself devoid of any special merit or Mitzvah. Instead, he pleaded to HaShem, “With my voice I ask HaShem for a free gift.”
These “code words” penetrated the Heavens and awakened HaShem’s compassion. HaShem sent the spider and it speedily wove its web over the entrance to the cave where King David was hiding with his 600 men.
King Saul saw the spider web and was absolutely positive that King David was not hiding in the that cave. In fact, he was so sure that the cave was empty that he entered the cave to relieve himself. King David saw King Saul enter the cave, but King Saul had no idea that King David was in the cave. Unbeknownst to King Saul, King David cut off a piece of his garment.
Subsequently, King David revealed to King Saul that he had cut off a portion of his garment, and he could have easily killed him if he wanted to. King Saul accepted King David’s words and made peace with King David.
Let us cry out to HaShem, may He be blessed, and ask for a “free gift.” HaShem will recognize our utter humility and answer all of our prayers!
(Based on Chat Anach of the Chidah)
