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1 Samuel 30
1It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire,
2and had taken captive the women and all who were therein, both small and great. They didn't kill any, but carried them off, and went their way.
3When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.
4Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.
7David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me here the ephod." Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8David inquired of Yahweh, saying, "If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue; for you shall surely overtake them, and shall without fail recover all."
9So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.
10But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn't go over the brook Besor.
11They found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink.
12They gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins. when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
13David asked him, "To whom do you belong? Where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.
14We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire."
15David said to him, "Will you bring me down to this troop?" He said, "Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this troop."
16When he had brought him down, behold, they were spread around over all the ground, eating, drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
17David struck them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped from there, except four hundred young men, who rode on camels and fled.
18David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.
19There was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them. David brought back all.
20David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drove before those [other] livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil."
21David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to stay at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him. When David came near to the people, he greeted them.
22Then all the wicked men and base fellows, of those who went with David, answered and said, "Because they didn't go with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart."
23Then David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which Yahweh has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.
24Who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarries by the baggage: they shall share alike."
25It was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
26When David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, "Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh."
27He sent it to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir,
28and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,
29and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,
30and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Borashan, and to those who were in Athach,
31and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.
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Abiathar: High Priest--Called Ahimelech: Consults the Ephod for David 1 Samuel 30:9–12
So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind / because two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the brook. But David and four hundred men continued in pursuit. / Now his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave the man water to drink and food to eat—
Abigail: Nabal's Wife: Taken Captive and Rescued by David 1 Samuel 30:1–18
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
Ahinoam: Wife of King David 1 Samuel 30:5, 18
David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive. / So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.
Amalekites: Defeated by David 1 Samuel 30:1–20
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
Armies: March in Ranks: Seeking Counsel from God Before Battle 1 Samuel 30:8
and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”
Aroer: A City in Judah 1 Samuel 30:28
to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;
Athach: A City of Judah 1 Samuel 30:30
to those in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach;
Besor: A Brook Near Gaza 1 Samuel 30:9, 10, 21
So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind / because two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the brook. But David and four hundred men continued in pursuit. / When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him from the Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he greeted them,
Beth-El: A City in the South of Territory of the Tribe of Judah 1 Samuel 30:27
He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir;
Brooks: Besor 1 Samuel 30:9
So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor, where some stayed behind
Camel: Herds of 1 Samuel 30:17
And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.
Camel: Uses of for Cavalry 1 Samuel 30:17
And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.
Captive: Prisoner of War 1 Samuel 30:1, 2
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.
Cavalry: Mounted: On Camels 1 Samuel 30:17
And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.
Cherethites: A Philistine Tribe, Which Adhered to David, and with the Pelethites Formed his Bodyguard 1 Samuel 30:14, 16
We raided the Negev of the Cherethites, the territory of Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned down Ziklag.” / So he led David down, and there were the Amalekites spread out over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.
Chor-Ashan: A Town in Judah 1 Samuel 30:30
to those in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach;
Dancing: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Samuel 30:16
So he led David down, and there were the Amalekites spread out over all the land, eating, drinking, and celebrating the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah.
David: King of Israel: Rescues the People of Ziklag, Who had been Captured by the Amalekites 1 Samuel 30:1
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down.
Ephod: A Sacred Vestment Worn by the High Priest used As an Oracle 1 Samuel 30:7, 8
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”
Eshtemoa: Also Called Eshtemoh: David Shared Plunder With 1 Samuel 30:28
to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;
Fig: Dried and Preserved 1 Samuel 30:12
a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.
Food: Articles of Dried Fruit 1 Samuel 30:12
a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins. So he ate and was revived, for he had not had any food or water for three days and three nights.
Government: Municipal: Devolving Upon a Local Senate and Executive officers 1 Samuel 30:26
When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”
Hormah: Within the Territory Allotted to Judah 1 Samuel 30:30
to those in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach;
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1 Samuel 30:1-6 Verses 1-6
When we go abroad in the way of our duty, we may comfortably hope that God will take care of our families in our absence, but not otherwise. If, when we come off a journey, we find our abode in peace, and not laid waste, as David here found his, let the Lord be praised for it. David's men murmured against him. Great faith must expect such severe trials. But, observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before he was raised to the throne. When things are at the worst with the church and people of God, then they begin to mend. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. His men fretted at their loss, the soul of the people was bitter; their own discontent and impatience added to the affliction and misery. But David bore it better, though he had more reason than any of them to lament it. They gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces to work; and while they dispirited each other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Those who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from him in the worst times.
1 Samuel 30:7-15 Verses 7-15
If in all our ways, even when, as in this case, there can be no doubt they are just, we acknowledge God, we may expect that he will direct our steps, as he did those of David. David, in tenderness to his men, would by no means urge them beyond their strength. The Son of David thus considers the frames of his followers, who are not all alike strong and vigorous in their spiritual pursuits and conflicts; but, where we are weak, there he is kind; nay more, there he is strong, 2Co 12:9, 10. A poor Egyptian lad, scarcely alive, is made the means of a great deal of good to David. Justly did Providence make this poor servant, who was basely used by his master, an instrument in the destruction of the Amalekites; for God hears the cry of the oppressed. Those are unworthy the name of true Israelites, who shut up their compassion from persons in distress. We should neither do an injury nor deny a kindness to any man; some time or other it may be in the power of the lowest to return a kindness or an injury.
1 Samuel 30:16-20 Verses 16-20
Sinners are nearest to ruin, when they cry, Peace and safety, and put the evil day far from them. Nor does any thing give our spiritual enemies more advantage than sensuality and indulgence. Eating and drinking, and dancing, have been the soft and pleasant way in which many have gone down to the congregation of the dead. The spoil was recovered, and brought off; nothing was lost, but a great deal gained.
1 Samuel 30:21-31 Verses 21-31
What God gives us, he designs we should do good with. In distributing the spoil, David was just and kind. Those are men of Belial indeed, who delight in putting hardships upon their brethren, and care not who is starved, so that they may be fed to the full. David was generous and kind to all his friends. Those who consider the Lord as the Giver of their abundance, will dispose of it with fairness and liberality.