1 Samuel 30:2

2 taking the women and everyone in the city prisoner, whether young or old. They hadn't killed anyone but carried them off and went on their way.

1 Samuel 30:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:2

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 30:2 In-Context

1 Three days later, David and his soldiers reached Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided the arid southern plain and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it down,

2 taking the women and everyone in the city prisoner, whether young or old. They hadn't killed anyone but carried them off and went on their way.

3 When David and his soldiers got to the town and found it burned down, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters taken prisoner,

4 David and the troops with him broke into tears and cried until they could cry no more.

5 David's two wives had been captured as well: Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX; MT lacks and everyone in the city.