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1 Samuel
Chapter Thirty
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 30
This
chapter relates the condition Ziklag was in when David and his men came to it
the city burnt
and their families carried captive by the Amalekites
which
occasioned not only a general lamentation
but mutiny and murmuring in David's
men
1 Samuel 30:1; the
inquiry David made of the Lord what he should do
who is bid to pursue the
enemy; and being directed by a lad where they were
fell upon them
and routed
them
and brought back the captives with a great spoil
1 Samuel 30:7; the
distribution of the spoil
both to those that went with him
and to those who
through faintness were left behind
1 Samuel 30:21; and
the presents of it he sent to several places in the tribe of Judah
who had
been kind to him when he dwelt among them
1 Samuel 30:26.
1 Samuel 30:1 Now it
happened
when David and his men came to Ziklag
on the third day
that the
Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag
attacked Ziklag and burned it with
fire
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
in
the coming in of David and his men to Ziklag
on the third day
that the
Amalekites have pushed unto the south
and unto Ziklag
and smite Ziklag
and
burn it with fire
And it came to pass
when David and his men were come to Ziklag
on the third day
.... Either from their departure from thence
when they went out
with Achish
or rather from the time of their leaving Achish
and the camp of
the Philistines; so long they were upon their march homewards
see 2 Samuel 1:1; and
no wonder
if it was the distance of eighty eight miles; see Gill on 1 Samuel 29:11
that the Amalekites had invaded the south
and Ziklag; the southern
parts of the land of the Philistines
and of Judah
as appears from 1 Samuel 30:14;
taking the opportunity of the Philistines being gone into the land of Israel
and particularly of David's absence from Ziklag
to whom they bore a grudge for
his invasion
destruction
and spoil of them not long ago
see 1 Samuel 27:8
and smitten Ziklag
and burnt it with fire; not that they
smote the inhabitants of it
there were no men in it
and the women and
children they carried captive; but they demolished the buildings in it
pulled
down the houses after they had rifled them
and burnt them with fire
that
David and his men might dwell there no more.
1 Samuel 30:2 2 and
had taken captive the women and those who were there
from small to
great; they did not kill anyone
but carried them away and went their
way.
YLT
2and they take captive the
women who [are] in it; from small unto great they have not put any one to
death
and they lead away
and go on their way.
And had taken the women captives
that were therein
.... There
being no other to take
the men were gone with David:
they slew not any
either great or small; that is
of
the women
whether married or unmarried
old
or maidens
or children; which
was very much
since David destroyed all that came within his reach
men and
women
when he invaded them
1 Samuel 27:9; but
perhaps this was not owing to their humanity
but to their covetousness
designing to make an advantage of them by selling them for slaves; no doubt
they were restrained by the providence of God:
but carried them away
and went on their way; homewards
with their captives.
1 Samuel 30:3 3 So
David and his men came to the city
and there it was
burned with fire; and
their wives
their sons
and their daughters had been taken captive.
YLT
3And David cometh in -- and
his men -- unto the city
and lo
burnt with fire
and their wives
and their
sons
and their daughters have been taken captive!
So David and his men came to the city
.... Or
however to the place where it had stood
and where it now lay in ruins:
and
behold
it was burnt with fire; the whole
city was laid in ashes:
and their wives
and their sons
and their daughters
were taken
captives; as it appeared afterwards; for upon their first coming they knew
not but they were all destroyed; and which they might reasonably suppose from
their former treatment of them
unless there were any left upon the spot which
could inform them how things were
which does not appear
and which must make
their distress the greater.
1 Samuel 30:4 4 Then
David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept
until they had no more power to weep.
YLT
4And David lifteth up -- and
the people who [are] with him -- their voice and weep
till that they have no
power to weep.
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up
their voice
.... In doleful shrieks
and loud lamentations:
and wept
until they had no more power to weep; till nature
was quite exhausted
and no moisture left; so the Vulgate Latin version
"till tears failed in them"; they could shed no more.
1 Samuel 30:5 5 And
David’s two wives
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail the widow of Nabal the
Carmelite
had been taken captive.
YLT
5And the two wives of David
have been taken captive
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail wife of Nabal
the Carmelite;
And David's two wives were taken captives
.... Which is
observed as one cause of his particular distress
and another follows in 1 Samuel 30:6
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite: that is
who had been his wife; for he was now dead
1 Samuel 25:39
and
was so before she was married to David; both these came with him to Gath
and
were left at Ziklag when he went with Achish
and here they were taken; see 1 Samuel 25:42.
1 Samuel 30:6 6 Now
David 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 his daughters.
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
YLT
6and David hath great
distress
for the people have said to stone him
for the soul of all the people
hath been bitter
each for his sons and for his daughters; and David doth
strengthen himself in Jehovah his God.
And David was greatly distressed
.... Partly for the loss
of his two wives
and partly because of the mutiny and murmuring of his men:
for the people spake of stoning him; as the Israelites did of
Moses and Aaron
Numbers 14:10; the
reason of this was
because
as they judged
it was owing to David that they
went along with Achish
and left the city defenceless
and because he had
provoked the Amalekites by his inroad upon them
who took this opportunity of
avenging themselves. Abarbinel is of opinion that it was his excess of sorrow
for his two wives
and his remissness and backwardness to take vengeance on
their enemies
that provoked them
and put them on talking after this manner:
because the soul of all the people was grieved
every man for his
sons and for his daughters; as well as David; and they were very
desirous of recovering them if possible
and of taking vengeance on those who
had carried them captive:
but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God; took all
patiently
and exercised faith on his God; he encouraged himself in the power
and providence of God; in the promises of God
and his faithfulness in keeping
them; in a view of his covenant relation to God; in remembrance of the grace
mercy
and goodness of God
and his former experiences of it; hoping and
believing that God would appear for him in some way or another
and work
salvation for him. The Targum is
"he strengthened himself in the Word of
the Lord his God;'in Christ the Word of God
and in the power of his might
and
in the grace that is in him
Ephesians 6:10.
1 Samuel 30:7 7 Then David said to
Abiathar the priest
Ahimelech’s son
“Please bring the ephod here to me.” And
Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
YLT
7And David saith unto
Abiathar the priest
son of Ahimelech
`Bring nigh
I pray thee
to me the
ephod;' and Abiathar bringeth nigh the ephod unto David
And David said to Abiathar the priest
Ahimelech's son
.... The son
of Ahimelech
who was slain at Nob by the order of Saul
1 Samuel 22:19; and
Abiathar his son
who fled to David with the ephod
on the death of his father
1 Samuel 22:20
was
now high priest in his room; and who it seems was with David when he went with
Achish
and returned with him; for had he been left at Ziklag
he and his
ephod
in all probability
had been carried off by the Amalekites
unless we
can suppose him under the protection of a special providence: it is much David
had not inquired of the Lord by him about his going with Achish; perhaps the
present disaster brought to mind that neglect
and made him the more diligent
now:
I pray thee
bring me hither the ephod; not to put it
on himself
but that the high priest might put it on
and inquire by it before
him of the Lord:
and Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David; for the sake
of David
that inquiry might be made before him of the Lord by Urim and
Thummim.
1 Samuel 30:8 8 So David inquired of the Lord
saying
“Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him
“Pursue
for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
YLT
8and David asketh at
Jehovah
saying
`I pursue after this troop -- do I overtake it?' And He saith
to him
`Pursue
for thou dost certainly overtake
and dost certainly deliver.'
And David inquired of the Lord
.... That is
by
Abiathar
who reported his questions to the Lord in his name:
saying
shall I pursue after this troop? the large
company of the Amalekites
as it appears by what follows they were:
shall I overtake them? two questions are here
put together
and answers returned to them
contrary to a notion of the Jews;
See Gill on 1 Samuel 23:11
and he answered him
pursue; which respects the first
question:
for thou shall surely overtake them; which is an
answer to the second question
and a full one
giving full assurance of
overtaking; to which is added more than what was inquired about:
and without fail recover all; their wives
sons
and
daughters
and the spoil that was taken; or "in delivering thou shall
deliver"F16הצל תציל
"eruendo erues"
Pagninus
Montanus; "eripiendo erepturus
es"
Piscator.
out of the hands of the Amalekites
whatsoever they had
taken.
1 Samuel 30:9 9 So David went
he and the
six hundred men who were with him
and came to the Brook Besor
where
those stayed who were left behind.
YLT
9And David goeth on
he and
six hundred men who [are] with him
and they come in unto the brook of Besor
and those left have stood still
So David went
he and the six hundred men that were with
him
.... Encouraged by the oracle of the Lord:
and came to the brook Besor; which AdrichomiusF17Theatrum
Terrae Sanct. p. 133. places in the tribe of Simeon; it is thought to be near
Gaza. AristaeusF18Hist. 72. Interpret. p. 41. speaks of brooks that
flowed by Gaza and Ashdod
places that belonged to the Philistines; some take
it to be the river of the wilderness in Amos; see Gill on Amos 6:14
where those that were left behind stayed: or a part of
them were left
as the Targum; all the six hundred came to this brook
but two
hundred of them were left here
1 Samuel 30:10
shows
and stayed here till the rest returned; for this is not to be understood
of any that were left behind at Ziklag
for all came from thence to this brook.
1 Samuel 30:10 10 But David pursued
he and
four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind
who were so weary that
they could not cross the Brook Besor.
YLT
10and David pursueth
he and
four hundred men
(and two hundred men stand still who have been too faint to
pass over the brook of Besor)
But David pursued
he and four hundred men
.... Not
discouraged with being obliged to leave a third part of his little army behind;
though it was doubtless a trial of his faith
with these to pursue an enemy
whose numbers he knew not
which must greatly exceed his; for after the rout
and slaughter of them
as many escaped on camels as David had with him
1 Samuel 30:17
for two hundred abode behind
which were so faint; through their
grief and sorrow for the loss of their wives and children
and through their
march from the camp of the Philistines to Ziklag
and from thence hither
that
they looked like a corpse
as the word signifies; Procopius Gazaeus has it only
seventy men:
so that they could not go over the brook Besor: being so weak
and feeble; for this was not owing to fear of their enemies
and faint
heartedness on that account
then it would rather have been said
"they
would not go over"; the Targum renders the word "faint" by
"restrained" or prohibited
as if they were forbid by David to go
over
but were ordered to tarry here by the stuff
while the rest pursued; and
according to the Syriac and Arabic versions
they were placed there
that none
might go over the brook; and it seems
by 1 Samuel 30:22
that they had a good will to go over
but were made to abide there; or as all
Gideon's army
but three hundred
were sent back
and not suffered to go with
him
being too many
Judges 7:2.
1 Samuel 30:11 11 Then they found an
Egyptian in the field
and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he
ate
and they let him drink water.
YLT
11and they find a man
an
Egyptian
in the field
and take him unto David
and give to him bread
and he
eateth
and they cause him to drink water
And they found an Egyptian in the field
.... As they
passed along
lying there
having been sick
and was half starved
almost dead:
and brought him to David; to know what was to be
done with him; being in the habit of a soldier
they concluded he might be one
of the company they were in pursuit of; but whether they should kill him
or
make use of him for intelligence and as a guide
could they bring him to
himself
they knew not
and therefore brought him to David:
and gave him bread
and he did eat
and they made him drink water; both which
they had with them for their own use; had he been an Amalekite
and not an
Egyptian
they might not have relieved or spared him
but must have destroyed
him at once; see Deuteronomy 25:19.
1 Samuel 30:12 12 And they gave him a piece
of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten
his
strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three
days and three nights.
YLT
12and give to him a piece of
a bunch of dried figs
and two bunches of raisins
and he eateth
and his
spirit returneth unto him
for he hath not eaten bread nor drunk water three
days and three nights.
And they gave him a piece of cake of figs
.... That were
dried and pressed together
and made into cakes:
and two clusters of raisins; or dried grapes
as the
Targum:
and when he had eaten
his spirit came again to him; he seemed to
be quite dispirited
almost lifeless
but upon eating some food he was
refreshed
and his spirits revived
and he was capable of conversing:
for he had eaten no bread
nor drank any water
three days
and three nights; that is
one whole day
and part of two days
as appears from 1 Samuel 30:13.
1 Samuel 30:13 13 Then David said to him
“To whom do you belong
and where are you from?” And he said
“I am
a young man from Egypt
servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind
because three days ago I fell sick.
YLT
13And David saith to him
`Whose [art] thou? and whence [art] thou?' And he saith
`An Egyptian youth I
[am]
servant to a man
an Amalekite
and my lord forsaketh me
for I have been
sick three days
And David said unto him
to whom belongest thou?.... To what
country or people? and to whom among them?
and whence art thou? of what nation? where
wast thou born? what countryman art thou? for his being called an Egyptian
before seems to be by anticipation
unless it was guessed at by his habit; for
until he had eaten and drank he could not speak
and so could not be known by
his speech:
for he said
I am a young man of Egypt; that was the
country he belonged to
and came from; he was an Egyptian by birth:
servant to an Amalekite; one of those that had
invaded the country
and burnt Ziklag
as it follows:
and my master left me
because three days agone I fell sick; which was
very barbarous and cruel to leave him at all
when they had camels with them
1 Samuel 30:17; and
no doubt carriages for their arms
provision
and spoil
and men; and more so
to leave him without anybody with him to take care of him
and without any
food
when he capable of eating any; but so it was ordered by the providence of
God
that should be left to be the instrument of the just ruin of his master
and of the whole troop.
1 Samuel 30:14 14 We made an invasion of the
southern area of the Cherethites
in the territory which belongs
to Judah
and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with
fire.”
YLT
14we pushed [to] the south of
the Cherethite
and against that which [is] to Judah
and against the south of
Caleb
and Ziklag we burned with fire.'
We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites
.... The
Philistines so called
or at least one nation of them
such that dwelt to the
south of the land
1 Samuel 30:16; See
Gill on Zephaniah 2:5
and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah; the south of
Judah
where David pretended he had been
and had spoiled
and which was now
actually done by the Amalekites
1 Samuel 27:10
and upon the south of Caleb; that part of the tribe
of Judah which belonged to Caleb the son of Jephunneh
and his posterity
and
which was the southern part of it
Joshua 15:19
and we burnt Ziklag with fire; and then departed.
1 Samuel 30:15 15 And David said to him
“Can you take me down to this troop?” So he said
“Swear to me by God that you
will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master
and I will
take you down to this troop.”
YLT
15And David saith unto him
`Dost thou bring me down unto this troop?' and he saith
`Swear to me by God --
thou dost not put me to death
nor dost thou shut me up into the hand of my
lord -- and I bring thee down unto this troop.'
And David said unto him
canst thou me down to this company?.... That is
show him
or direct him where they were:
and he said
swear unto me by God; the Targum is
by the
Word of the Lord; but it is highly probable this man had no notion of Jehovah
and his Word
or of the true God; only that there was a God
and that an oath
taken by him was solemn
sacred
and inviolable
and might be trusted to and
depended on:
that thou wilt neither kill me; for he found now he was
in the hands of those whose city he had been concerned in plundering and
burning
and so might fear his life was in danger:
nor deliver me into the hands of my master; who had been
a cruel one to him
and therefore would gladly be clear of him; and if he had
nothing else against him
his late usage of him was sufficient to raise his
resentment of him:
and I will bring thee down to this company; or show him
where they were
having heard them say where they would stop
and make merry
and divide their spoil; and perhaps his master might tell him they would be at
such a place at such a time
where
if he was better
he might come to them;
the Vulgate Latin version adds
"and David swore to him": which
though not expressed in the original text
was no doubt done by him; and the
Syriac and Arabic versions begin 1 Samuel 30:16
thus
"when David had sworn to him".
1 Samuel 30:16 16 And when he had brought him
down
there they were
spread out over all the land
eating and drinking and
dancing
because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of
the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
YLT
16And he bringeth him down
and lo
they are spread out over the face of all the earth
eating
and
drinking
and feasting
with all the great spoil which they have taken out of
the land of the Philistines
and out of the land of Judah.
And when he had brought him down
.... To the place where
the company of the Amalekites were
or near it:
behold
they were spread abroad upon all the earth; they were not
in any regular order
and much less in any military form
but lay about in the
fields
scattered here and there
were in detached parties:
some eating and drinking; in one place:
and dancing; others
in another place
expressing their joy
and perhaps
their thankfulness to their idols
because of the great spoil they had taken out of the land of the
Philistines
and out of the land of Judah; from Ziklag
and from
the south of the Cherethites
and the south of Judah
they had invaded
1 Samuel 30:14; and
here they were in the greatest security; knowing: that the armies of the
Philistines were gone into the land of Israel
and were about to engage in
battle with the Israelites
and David they supposed was with the Philistines
so that they had nothing to fear from any quarter; and thus it is often
that
when men cry peace
peace
sudden destruction comes upon them.
1 Samuel 30:17 17 Then David attacked them
from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped
except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.
YLT
17And David smiteth them from
the twilight even unto the evening of the morrow
and there hath not escaped of
them a man
except four hundred young men who have ridden on the camels
and
are fled.
And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of
the next day
.... As there are two twilights
the twilight of the morning
and
the twilight of the evening; this is differently understood some take it for
the twilight of the morning
and that it was night when David came to them
and
let them alone till they were drunk and asleep
and then early in the morning
fell upon them
and smote them until the evening; so JosephusF19Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 4. sect. 6. relates it; but others take it to be the twilight of the
evening
and that he fell upon them that night
and continued the slaughter of
them to the evening of the next day
with which agrees the Targum; nay
some
take the next day
or the morrow
to be that which followed after the two
evenings; so that this slaughter was carried on to the third day:
and there escaped not a man of them
save four hundred young men
that rode upon camels
and fled; that sort of camels called dromedaries
according to JosephusF20Ibid.
and which were very swift
and much
used by the Arabians
near whom these people dwelt
see Isaiah 60:6.
1 Samuel 30:18 18 So David recovered all
that the Amalekites had carried away
and David rescued his two wives.
YLT
18And David delivereth all
that the Amalekites have taken; also his two wives hath David delivered.
And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away
.... The wives
and children of the Israelites
and their goods
excepting the provisions they
had eaten:
and David rescued his two wives; which is particularly
observed
because a special concern of his.
1 Samuel 30:19 19 And nothing of theirs was
lacking
either small or great
sons or daughters
spoil or anything which they
had taken from them; David recovered all.
YLT
19And there hath not lacked
to them [anything]
from small unto great
and unto sons and daughters
and
from the spoil
even unto all that they had taken to themselves
the whole hath
David brought back
And there was nothing lacking to them
neither small nor great
neither sons nor daughters
.... Not any of the least or youngest
nor
any of them that were grown up; for as these were not slain but carried
captive
so they were brought back
and not one missing
see 1 Samuel 30:2
neither spoil
nor any thing they had taken to them: except the
food they had eaten and the liquor they had drank
as before observed; and
perhaps what they had ate and drank were none of theirs
but the Philistines:
so that
David recovered all; taken in the utmost
extent.
1 Samuel 30:20 20 Then David took all the
flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock
and said
“This is David’s spoil.”
YLT
20and David taketh the whole
of the flock
and of the herd
they have led on before these cattle
and they
say
`This [is] David's spoil.'
And David took all the flocks
and the herds
.... Which
they had taken from the land of the Philistines
or which belonged to the Amalekites
properly:
which they drave
before those other cattle; which had been carried
from Ziklag; first went the spoil taken from other places
and then those taken
from David and his men
or what was found at Ziklag. Abarbinel supposes the
meaning to be this
that the herds were driven before the flocks
that the oxen
were led out first
and then the sheep followed
as being the weaker sort
and
more easily to be driven
and carried off; but the former sense seems best:
and said
this is David's spoil; either the
whole of it
it being owing to him that it was got or brought back; or this may
respect some peculiar part of it made a present of to him; or it may design
what the Amalekites had taken from others
which was at the disposal of David
as distinguished from what was taken from Ziklag
and was restored
or to be
restored to the proper owners: it may be taken in the first and more general
sense
as being the song
or the burden of the song
sung by David's men as
they returned with the spoil
giving him all the honour of it
of whom
but a
little before
they talked of stoning.
1 Samuel 30:21 21 Now David came to the two
hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David
whom they
also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to
meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people
he greeted them.
YLT
21And David cometh in unto
the two hundred men who were too faint to go after David
and whom they cause
to abide at the brook of Besor
and they go out to meet David
and to meet the
people who [are] with him
and David approacheth the people
and asketh of them
of welfare.
And David came to the two hundred men
.... Left at
the brook Besor:
who were so faint that they could not follow David; or
as the
Targum
were restrained from going over after him; either through faintness of
spirits
and weakness of body
or through the order of David that they should
not follow him; and which seems to receive some countenance from what follows:
whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor; to guard the
passage there
and to tarry by and keep the stuff:
and they went forth to meet David
and to meet the people that were
with him; to congratulate them upon the victory they had obtained
and to
see and receive their wives and children
and what portion of the spoil might
be divided to them:
and when David came near to the people
he saluted them; asked them of
their welfare
whether they were in better health
and recovered of their
faintness and weakness
as it should seem they were
by their coming forth to
meet him.
1 Samuel 30:22 22 Then all the wicked and
worthless men[a] of those
who went with David answered and said
“Because they did not go with us
we
will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered
except for
every man’s wife and children
that they may lead them away and depart.”
YLT
22And every bad and worthless
man
of the men who have gone with David
answereth
yea
they say
`Because
that they have not gone with us we do not give to them of the spoil which we
have delivered
except each his wife and his children
and they lead away and go.
Then answered all the wicked men
and men of Belial
of
those that went with David
.... Who were ill natured men
and of
covetous dispositions
as what is called their answer shows; and it seems by
that as if the two hundred men had moved that they might have their share in
the spoil
or that David had given some intimation that they should:
and said
because they went not with us
we will not give
them ought
of the spoil that we have recovered: which was very
unreasonable not to let them have what was before their own which was
recovered; and indeed it was but right they should have their share in the
spoil that was taken which was of others
as will appear hereafter: but they
were of opinion and were come to a resolution
they should have no more:
save to every man his wife and his children; which was
very unkind and ungenerous:
that they may lead them away
and depart; but whither?
Ziklag was burnt
the land of Israel they would not return unto
where they
must fall a sacrifice to Saul; these men cared not where they went
so that
they were rid of them
that they might not have any share with them in the
spoil.
1 Samuel 30:23 23 But David said
“My
brethren
you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us
who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against
us.
YLT
23And David saith
`Ye do not
do so
my brethren
with that which Jehovah hath given to us
and He doth
preserve us
and doth give the troop which cometh against us into our hand;
Then said David
ye shall not do so
my brethren
.... Though he
saw through their wickedness
and disapproved of the bad sentiments they had
embraced
yet he deals gently with them
calling them brethren
being of the
same nation and religion
and his fellow soldiers; yet at the same time keeps
up and maintains his dignity and authority as a general
and declares it should
not be as they willed
and gives his reasons for it
that it was not fit they
should do as they pleased:
with that which the Lord hath given us; what they had
was given them
and therefore
as they had freely received
they should freely
give; and what was given them
was not given to them only
but to the whole
body
by the Lord:
who hath preserved us
and delivered the company that came against
us into our hand; it was not by their own power and might that they got the
victory over the enemy
and the spoil into their hands
but it was through the
Lord only; and therefore
as they should not assume the honour of the victory
to themselves
so neither should they claim the spoil as wholly belonging to
them.
1 Samuel 30:24 24 For who will heed you in
this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle
so shall
his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”
YLT
24and who doth hearken to you
in this thing? for as the portion of him who was brought down into battle
so
also [is] the portion of him who is abiding by the vessels -- alike they
share.'
For who will hearken unto you in fit is matter?
.... No wise
and just man will take on your side of the question
and join with you in
excluding your brethren from a share in the spoil:
but as his part is that goeth down to the battle
so shall
his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; as these two hundred men
did; they were placed to abide by and watch the carriages
the bag and baggage
the rest had left there
that they might be the lighter
and make their pursuit
more swiftly: besides
they guarded the pass here
and were also exposed to
danger; for if the four hundred had been cut off
and the enemy had returned
they must all have perished; and therefore as they had their post assigned
them
and were liable to danger
it was but just and reasonable they should
have the share in the spoil; especially since it was not want of will in them
they did not go with them
but weakness of body:
they shall part alike; this was David's
determination and decision
and it was an equitable one: something similar to
this was directed by the Lord in the war of Midian
Numbers 31:25
&c. and was practised in the times of Abraham
Genesis 14:24; and
is agreeable to the light of nature
and what has been practised by the
Heathens
particularly the Romans
as PolybiusF21Hist. l. 10. p.
365. relates; who tells us
that every man brought booty into the camp
when
the tribunes divided it equally to them all; not only to those which remained
in battle
but to those that guarded the tents and the baggage
to the sick
and to those that were appointed to any service
see Psalm 68:12; and so
the Turkish historian saysF23Chalcocondyl. de reb. Turc. l. 5. p.
161.
that the Pisidians
who lived on spoil
gave a part not contemptible to
those that abode at home with their wives.
1 Samuel 30:25 25 So it was
from that day
forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
YLT
25And it cometh to pass from
that day and forward
that he appointeth it for a statute and for an ordinance
for Israel unto this day.
And it was so from that day forward
.... Or
"upwards"F24ומעלה "et supra"
Pagninus
Montanus; "et jam olim"
Tigurine version.
of old
formerly; and so may refer either to what was done at the war with Midian
Numbers 31:27; or
in the times of Abraham
Genesis 14:23; and
so Jarchi observes
it is not said
"henceforward"
but
"upwards"
it being a statute and custom in the days of Abraham; the
same he notes on Genesis 14:24;
where he
David
learnt this from thence; though JosephusF25Antiqu.
l. 6. c
14. sect. 6. is express for it
that this law obtained from the time
of David; and such was his authority
though as yet not king
but a wise and
just commander:
that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this
day; it appeared so reasonable and equitable
that it was always regarded
and attended to.
1 Samuel 30:26 26 Now when David came to
Ziklag
he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah
to his
friends
saying
“Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of
the Lord”—
YLT
26And David cometh in unto
Ziklag
and sendeth of the spoil to the elders of Judah
to his friends
(saying
`Lo
for you a blessing
of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah)
'
And when David came to Ziklag
.... Perhaps with an
intention to rebuild it
and make it still the place of his residence; and it
is possible there might be some houses that escaped flames
and if not
tents
might be pitched until the city was rebuilt
and it appears that he continued
there some time:
he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah: of that part
of it which belonged to himself as a general:
even to his friends; such as had
been kind to him when he sojourned among them; so that this was a piece of
gratitude
as well as of policy in him
to make his way to the throne the
easier
he perceiving the time drawing on for the expiration of the kingdom in
the family of Saul; and besides
some in those parts he sent of the spoil to
might have been sufferers by the Amalekites
so that it was but a point of
justice to restore to them what had been taken from them; for they had invaded
the south of Judea
and took spoils from thence
1 Samuel 30:14; it
was to his friends in those parts he sent
not to the inhabitants of Ziph and
Keilah
which were places in the tribe of Judah; but these having attempted to
betray him
were not entitled to his favours
though they were not the objects
of his vengeance:
saying
behold
a present for you
of the spoil of the Lord's
enemies; or a "blessing"F26ברכה
"benedictio"
Pagninus
Montanus.
which he sent them with a good
will
wishing health and happiness to them; which they might without hesitation
receive
seeing it was not the spoil of private enemies
or of what was taken
from them in a way of private revenge
but the spoil of the enemies of the
Lord
his and their common enemies; nor need they scruple eating and enjoying
it
though the spoil of those that cursed the Lord
Abarbinel observes
since
this they had with the blessing of the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:27 27 to those who were
in Bethel
those who were in Ramoth of the South
those
who were in Jattir
YLT
27to those in Beth-El
and to
those in South Ramoth
and to those in Jattir
To them which were in Bethel
.... One part
of the spoil was sent to them; not to those in Bethel
in the tribe of
Benjamin
but in Kirjathjearim
called Bethel
or the house of God
because the
ark was there
see 1 Samuel 7:1;
moreover
this place was also called Baalah
which some think is referred to
here
see Joshua 15:9
and to them which were in south Ramoth; a city of the
tribe of Simeon
which lay within the lot of Judah; of which see Joshua 19:8
and to them which were in Jattir; a city of the
tribe of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:48.
1 Samuel 30:28 28 those
who were in Aroer
those who were in Siphmoth
those
who were in Eshtemoa
YLT
28and to those in Aroer
and
to those in Siphmoth
and to those in Eshtemoa
And to them which were in Aroer
.... Not Aroer
in the tribe of Gad beyond Jordan
where David is never said to be
but some
city of this name in the tribe of Judah; the Greek version of Joshua 15:22
instead of Adadah
has Arouel:
and to them which were in Siphmoth; which very
probably was in the tribe of Judah
though nowhere else mentioned:
and to them which were in Eshtemoa; a Levitical
city given to the Levites by the children of Judah
Joshua 21:14.
1 Samuel 30:29 29 those
who were in Rachal
those who were in the cities of the
Jerahmeelites
those who were in the cities of the Kenites
YLT
29and to those in Rachal
and
to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites
and to those in the cities of the
Kenites
And to them which were in Rachal
.... Another
city of the tribe of Judah
but nowhere else spoken of:
and to them which were in the cities of the
Jerahmeelites: which lay to the south of Judah
1 Samuel 27:10
and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites; who dwelt in
the wilderness of Judah
in the south of Arad
Judges 1:16.
1 Samuel 30:30 30 those
who were in Hormah
those who were in Chorashan
[b] those
who were in Athach
YLT
30and to those in Hormah
and
to those in Chor-Ashan
and to those in Athach
And to them which were in Hormah
.... This was
a city also in the tribe of Judah; of which see Joshua 15:30
and to them which were in Chorashan; or the lake
of Ashan
which was in the same tribe
see Joshua 15:42
and to them which were in Athach; nowhere else
mentioned; the Greek version has Nombe instead of it
which some take to be the
same with Nob; but that was in the tribe of Benjamin.
1 Samuel 30:31 31 those
who were in Hebron
and to all the places where David himself and his
men were accustomed to rove.
YLT
31and to those in Hebron
and
to all the places where David had gone up and down
he and his men.
And to them which were in Hebron
.... A noted
city in the tribe of Judah
in the mountainous part of it
and a city of
refuge
and where David was afterwards anointed
first king over Judah
and
then over Israel
2 Samuel 2:4
and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to
haunt; where they had their walks
and went to and fro when persecuted
by Saul; all such places
and the inhabitants of them
David had a grateful
remembrance of
who sheltered and relieved him in the times of his distress.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)