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Texts -- 1 Samuel 30:4-31 (NET)

Context
30:4 Then David and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more . 30:5 David’s two wives had been taken captive – Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite , Nabal’s widow . 30:6 David was very upset , for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters . But David drew strength from the Lord his God . 30:7 Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech , “Bring me the ephod .” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David . 30:8 David inquired of the Lord , saying , “Should I pursue this raiding band ? Will I overtake them?” He said to him, “Pursue , for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!” 30:9 So David went , accompanied by his six hundred men . When he came to the Wadi Besor , those who were in the rear stayed there. 30:10 David and four hundred men continued the pursuit , but two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor stayed there. 30:11 Then they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David . They gave him bread to eat and water to drink . 30:12 They gave him a slice of pressed figs and two bunches of raisins to eat . This greatly refreshed him, for he had not eaten food or drunk water for three days and three nights . 30:13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” The young man said , “I am an Egyptian , the servant of an Amalekite man . My master abandoned me when I was ill for three days . 30:14 We conducted a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites , on the area of Judah , and on the Negev of Caleb . We burned Ziklag .” 30:15 David said to him, “Can you take us down to this raiding party ?” He said , “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master , and I will take you down to this raiding party .” 30:16 So he took David down , and they found them spread out over the land . They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves because of all the loot they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah . 30:17 But David struck them down from twilight until the following evening . None of them escaped , with the exception of four hundred young men who got away on camels . 30:18 David retrieved everything the Amalekites had taken ; he also rescued his two wives . 30:19 There was nothing missing , whether small or great . He retrieved sons and daughters , the plunder , and everything else they had taken . David brought everything back . 30:20 David took all the flocks and herds and drove them in front of the rest of the animals . People were saying , “This is David’s plunder !” 30:21 Then David approached the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him , those whom they had left at the Wadi Besor . They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David approached the people , he asked how they were doing . 30:22 But all the evil and worthless men among those who had gone with David said , “Since they didn’t go with us, we won’t give them any of the loot we retrieved ! They may take only their wives and children . Let them lead them away and be gone !” 30:23 But David said , “No ! You shouldn’t do this, my brothers . Look at what the Lord has given us! He has protected us and has delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 30:24 Who will listen to you in this matter ? The portion of the one who went down into the battle will be the same as the portion of the one who remained with the equipment ! Let their portions be the same !” 30:25 From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel , right up to the present time . 30:26 When David came to Ziklag , he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah who were his friends , saying , “Here’s a gift for you from the looting of the Lord’s enemies !” 30:27 The gift was for those in the following locations: for those in Bethel , Ramoth Negev , and Jattir ; 30:28 for those in Aroer , Siphmoth , Eshtemoa , 30:29 and Racal ; for those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites ; 30:30 for those in Hormah , Bor Ashan , Athach , 30:31 and Hebron ; and for those in whatever other places David and his men had traveled .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Ziklag

    [ebd] a town in the Negeb, or south country of Judah (Josh. 15:31), in the possession of the Philistines when David fled to Gath from Ziph with all his followers. Achish, the king, assigned him Ziklag as his place of residence. Th...
    [isbe] ZIKLAG - zik'-lag (tsiqelagh, tsiqelagh (2 Sam 1:1), tsiqelagh (1 Ch 12:1,20); usually in the Septuagint Sekelak, or Sikelag): A town assigned (Josh 19:5; 1 Ch 4:30) to Simeon, but in Josh 15:31 named, between Hornah and Mad...
    [smith] (winding), a place which possesses a special interest from its having been the residence and the private property of David. It is first mentioned in the catalogue of the towns of Judah in (Joshua 15:31) and occurs, in the sam...
    [nave] ZIKLAG A city within the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15:31. Reallotted to the tribe of Simeon, Josh. 19:5. David dwells at, 1 Sam. 27:5, 6; 2 Sam. 1:1; 1 Chr. 12:1. Amalekites destroy, 1 Sam. 30. Inha...

  • David

    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Amalekites

    [smith] a nomadic tribe of uncertain origin, which occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness intervening between the southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt. (Numbers 13:29; 1 Samuel 15:7; 27:8) Their we...
    [nave] AMALEKITES A people inhabiting the country S. of Idumea and E. of the Red Sea, Num. 13:29; 14:25; 1 Sam. 15:7; 27:8. Defeated by Chedorlaomer, Gen. 14:7; by Saul, 1 Sam. 14:47, 48; 15:1-33; by David, 1 Sam. 27:8, 9; 30:1-20...

  • Robbery

    [ebd] Practised by the Ishmaelites (Gen. 16:12), the Chaldeans and Sabeans (Job 1:15, 17), and the men of Shechem (Judg. 9:25. See also 1 Sam. 27:6-10; 30; Hos. 4:2; 6:9). Robbers infested Judea in our Lord's time (Luke 10:30; Joh...

  • SAMUEL, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] SAMUEL, BOOKS OF - || I. PLACE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL IN THE HEBREW CANON II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOKS AND PERIOD OF TIME COVERED BY THE HISTORY III. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 1. Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 through 15) 2. Reign and D...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Abigail

    [ebd] father (i.e., "leader") of the dance, or "of joy." (1.) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite (1 Chr. 2:16,17). She was the mother of Amasa (2 Sam. 17:25). (2.) The wife of the churlish Nabal, who dwelt in th...
    [nave] ABIGAIL 1. Nabal's wife. Her wisdom and tact, and marriage to David, 1 Sam. 25; 27:3; 2 Sam. 2:2. Mother of Chileab by David, 2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chr. 3:1. Taken captive and rescued by David, 1 Sam. 30:1-18. 2. Sister of David,...

  • FAINT

    [isbe] FAINT - fant (`ayeph, `uph, ya`aph, `alaph, aTaph, dawway, yaghea`, macac, rakhakh, paghar, kahah; ekluo, ekkakeo, kamno): The Hebrew vocabulary for the depressing physical conditions and mental emotions which are rendered i...

  • ELDER

    [ebd] a name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank a...
    [smith] The term elder, or old man as the Hebrew literally imports, was one of extensive use, as an official title, among the Hebrews and the surrounding nations, because the heads of tribes and the leading people who had acquired in...

  • Ahinoam

    [ebd] brother of pleasantness = pleasant. (1.) The daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of Saul (1 Sam. 14:50). (2.) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David (1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3). She was the mother of Amnon (2 Sam. 3:2). (See 1 Sam. 30:5...
    [isbe] AHINOAM - a-hi-no'-am, a-hin'-o-am ('achino`am, "my brother is pleasantness"): (1) Daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of King Saul (1 Sam 14:50). (2) The woman from Jezreel whom David married after Saul gave Michal to another hus...
    [smith] (brother of grace , i.e. gracious). The daughter of Ahimaaz and wife of Saul. (1 Samuel 14:50) (B.C. about 1090.) A native of Jezreel who was married to David during his wandering life. (1 Samuel 25:43) (B.C. 1060.) Sh...
    [nave] AHINOAM 1. Wife of king Saul, 1 Sam. 14:50. 2. Wife of king David, 1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3; 30:5, 18; 2 Sam. 3:2.

  • Besor

    [ebd] cold, a ravine or brook in the extreme south-west of Judah, where 200 of David's men stayed behind because they were faint, while the other 400 pursued the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:9, 10, 21). Probably the Wadyes Sheriah, south...
    [nave] BESOR, a brook near Gaza, 1 Sam. 30:9, 10, 21.

  • PALESTINE, 2

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...

  • BESOR, THE BROOK

    [isbe] BESOR, THE BROOK - be'-sor, (nachal besor; Codex Alexandrinus, Bechor, Codex Vaticanus, Beana; 1 Sam 30:9,20,21; Josephus, Ant, VI, xiv, 6): A torrent-bed (nachal) mentioned in the account of David's pursuit of the Amalekite...
    [smith] (cool), a torrent-bed or wady in the extreme south of Judah. (1 Samuel 30:9,10,21)

  • Philistines

    [isbe] PHILISTINES - fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi): I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES 1. Race and Origin 2. Religion 3. Individual Philistines Mentioned 4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision 5. H...
    [nave] PHILISTINES Descendants of Mizraim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Called Cherethites, 1 Sam. 30:14-16; Ezek. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5; Casluhim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Caphtorim, Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Territory of...

  • Abiathar

    [ebd] father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli. When his father was slain with the priests of Nob, he escaped, and bearing wit...
    [isbe] ABIATHAR - a-bi'-a-thar, ab-i-a'-thar ('ebhyathar, "father of super-excellence," or, "the super-excellent one is father." With changed phraseology these are the explanations commonly given, though "a father remains" would be...
    [smith] (father of abundance , i.e. liberal), High priest and fourth in descent from Eli. (B.C. 1060-1012.) Abiathar was the only one of the all the sons of Ahimelech the high priest who escaped the slaughter inflicted upon his fathe...
    [nave] ABIATHAR 1. High priest. Called Ahimelech in 2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 24:3, 6, 31, and Abimelech, 1 Chr. 18:16. Son of Ahimelech, 1 Sam. 22:20. Escapes to David from the vengeance of Saul, who killed the priests in the city of ...

  • Aroer

    [ebd] ruins. (1.) A town on the north bank of the Arnon (Deut. 4:48; Judg. 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33), the southern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon (Josh. 12:2). It is now called Arair, 13 miles west of the Dead Sea. (2.) One of the t...
    [isbe] AROER - a-ro'-er (`aro'er; Aroer): (1) A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (Dt 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named ...
    [smith] (ruins). A city on the torrent Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon king of the Amorites and afterwards of the tribe of Reuben, (2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Joshua 12:2; 13:9,16; Judges 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chr...
    [nave] AROER 1. A city of the Amorites in the valley of the river Arnon, Deut. 4:48. Conquered by Israelites, Deut. 2:36; 3:12; Judg. 11:26. Taken by Hazael, 2 Kin. 10:33. 2. A city built, or, probably more correctly, rebuilt, b...

  • BOOTY

    [ebd] captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deut. 20: 16). The "pictures and images" of the Canaanites were to be destroyed also (Num. 33:52). The law of booty as to...
    [smith] consisted of captives of both sexes, cattle, and whatever a captured city might contain, especially metallic treasures. Within the limits of Canaan no captives were to be made, (20:14,16) beyond these limits, in case of warli...

  • Siphmoth

    [ebd] fruitful places, some unknown place in the south, where David found friends when he fled from Saul (1 Sam. 30:28).
    [isbe] SIPHMOTH - sif'-moth, sif'-moth (siphmoth (Ginsburg), shiphamoth (Baer); Saphei): One of the cities to which David sent presents from Ziklag (1 Sam 30:28). It occurs between Aroer and Eshtemoa, so it must have been somewhere...
    [smith] (fruitful), one of the places in the south of Judah which David frequented during his freebooting life. (1 Samuel 30:28)
    [nave] SIPHMOTH, a city of Judah, 1 Sam. 30:28.

  • Cherethites

    [isbe] CHERETHITES - ker'-e-thits (kerethim, ha-kerethi; Chelethi "executioners," "life-guardsmen"): A people in South Palestine whose territory bordered upon that of Judah (1 Sam 30:14). In 1 Sam 30:16 this land is apparently iden...
    [nave] CHERETHITES A Philistine tribe, which adhered to David, and with the Pelethites formed his bodyguard, 1 Sam. 30:14, 16; 2 Sam. 8:18; 15:18; 20:7, 23; 1 Kin. 1:38, 44; 1 Chr. 18:17; Ezek. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5. Solomon's escort a...

  • Eshtemoa

    [ebd] obedience, a town in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 21:14; 1 Chr. 6:57), which was allotted, with the land round it, to the priests. It was frequented by David and his followers during their wanderings; and he sent presents o...
    [isbe] ESHTEMOA - esh-te-mo'-a, esh'-te-mo-a ('eshtemoa`): A Levitical city in the hill country of Judah (Josh 21:14; 1 Ch 6:57); Eshtemoh ('eshtemoh, Josh 15:50). In Ch 4:17,19, Eshtemoa is said to be a Maacathite and "son" of Ish...
    [smith] and in shorter form Eshtemoh (obedience), a town of Judah in the mountains, (Joshua 15:50) allotted to the priest. (Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57) It was one of the places frequented by David and his followers during the...
    [nave] ESHTEMOA 1. Called also Eshtemoh. A town of Canaan assigned to Judah, Josh. 15:50. Allotted to the Aaronites, Josh. 21:14; 1 Chr. 6:57. David shared spoil with, 1 Sam. 30:28. 2. A descendant of Ezra, 1 Chr. 4:17, 19.
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • "Chapters 23 and 24 are two of the brightest chapters in the book of Numbers. Scores of wonderful things are said about Israel, mainly prophetical. The dark sins of the past were forgotten; only happy deliverance from Egypt w...
  • The writer now recorded the fulfillment of God's instructions to Moses that Israel should destroy the Midianites (25:16-18). In this account, the aftermath of the battle receives more attention than the battle itself. Evident...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • I. Eli and Samuel chs. 1-3A. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1-2:101. Hannah's condition 1:1-82. Hannah's vow 1:9-183. Hannah's obedience 1:19-284. Hannah's song 2:1-10B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2...
  • The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all kinds, follows from faithful commitment to God's revealed will, continues in this section. However another major motif now becomes more prominent. W...
  • In chapters 21-30 we see David's forces growing stronger and stronger while Saul's forces get weaker and weaker. This is a further demonstration of the fertility theme. However these chapters also develop the motif of the pro...
  • The town of Ziph was 12 miles southeast of Keilah, and the wilderness of Ziph was near the town. Ziph lay in the wilderness area of Judah whereas Keilah was in the more hospitable Shephelah. The sites of Horesh (v. 15) and Ha...
  • As Saul reached the depth of his fortunes, David attained the height of his popularity thus far. This chapter seems to antedate the previous one slightly. The writer appears to have incorporated it in his narrative here to hi...
  • This chapter reveals many qualities that marked David as an outstanding leader. As Saul continued to decline, God perfected the characteristics of leadership in David that prepared him for the throne. The Amalekites' capture ...
  • David took three days to return from Aphek (29:11) to Ziklag. The Amalekites, whom David had previously raided (27:8), took advantage of the Philistines' and David's absence to retaliate in the Negev and on Ziklag. They plund...
  • David obtained an answer through the Urim and Thummim, which the high priest carried in the breastpiece of his ephod (cf. 23:2, 4, 9). God no longer responded to Saul's prayers (28:15), but He did answer David's (v. 8). David...
  • The Amalekites were feasting on the plunder that they had taken even though the Egyptian servant had received nothing to eat or drink when he fell ill (cf. v. 12). David launched his attack early in the morning the next day a...
  • The rest of the chapter describes the distribution of plunder from this battle. The amount of space the writer devoted to this revelation shows that he intended to stress it.David returned to his 200 exhausted followers at th...
  • David also distributed some of the war plunder to the elders of Judah.293He evidently did so because he viewed the booty as coming from the enemies of all Judah, even the enemies of the Lord (v. 26). He may have also done thi...
  • The scene shifts back to Mt. Gilboa in the North. Saul's battle with the Philistines in this chapter may have been simultaneous with David's battle against the Amalekites in the previous one."Chapters 30 and 31 gain in poigna...
  • The other Israelite soldiers retreated when they heard that Saul and his sons had died. This left towns in the region open for Philistine seizure. Instead of driving the native inhabitants out of the land Saul had made it pos...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. The First Book of Samuel. Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible series. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1971._____. "The Verb Love--'Aheb in the David-Jonathan Narratives--A Footnote."Vetus ...
  • The young Amalekite must have been a mercenary soldier who had joined Saul's army. It seems more likely that this man's account of Saul's death was not accurate rather than that he had had some hand in killing Saul in view of...
  • Students of David's lament over Saul and Jonathan's deaths have called it the Song of the Bow (cf. v. 22).10Many people in Judah learned and sang it (v. 18). The Book of Jasher (v. 18) is no longer extant (cf. Josh. 10:13)."H...
  • "Without doubt this portion [of 2 Samuel, i.e., chapters 2-8] forms the crux of the book. Here the fertility motif reaches a peak. The thesis of the author--that Israel is blessed with fertility when the nation (and the epito...
  • "From the religious heights of chapter 7 we descend again to the everyday world of battles and bloodshed in chapter 8. The military action picks up where the story left off at the end of chapter 5."130Chapter 8 evidently desc...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • 25:15-16 The Philistines to Judah's west had also scorned the Israelites and had sought to destroy them (cf. Judg. 13-16; 1 Sam. 4; 13; 31; 2 Sam. 5; 2 Kings 18:8; 2 Chron. 21:16-17; 28:18). Therefore the Lord would stretch o...
  • 1:2-3 Joel called on everyone, from the most respected ruling elders of the land (cf. 1 Sam. 30:26-31; 2 Sam. 19:11-15; 2 Kings 23:1; Ezra 10:8; Prov. 31:23; Jer. 26:17; Lam. 5:12, 14) to the ordinary inhabitants, to pay atte...
  • References to the work and word of the Lord frame this section. Obadiah announced that a reversal of rolls was coming for Edom and all the nations.v. 15 "The day of the Lord"here is a future day in which God will reverse the ...
  • 2:4 The prophet announced that destruction would overtake four of the five cities of the Philistine pentapolis (cf. Isa. 14:28-32; Jer. 47; Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8). He listed them from south to north. Gath had evidently d...
  • That this section is distinct from the five that precede it is evident from two facts. Paul introduced it differently, and the emphasis in it is on God's resources. Earlier Paul urged the strengthening and growth of the body ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • 1 Samuel 30:6David was at perhaps the very lowest ebb of his fortunes. He had long been a wandering outlaw, and had finally been driven, by Saul's persistent hostility, to take refuge in the Philistines' country. He had gathe...
  • 1 Samuel 30:24David's city of Ziklag had been captured by the Amalekites, while he and all his men who could carry arms were absent, serving in the army of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. On their return they found ruin,...
  • 1 Samuel 31:1-13The story of Saul's tragic last days is broken in two by the account, in 1 Samuel 29, 30., of David's fortunate dismissal from the invading army, and his exploits against Amalek. The contrast between the two l...
  • David was now about thirty years old, and had had his character tested and matured by his hard experiences. He learned in suffering what he taught in song.' Exile, poverty, and danger are harsh but effectual teachers, if acce...
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