1 Samuel 30:18-28

18 So David 1recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.
19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; 2David brought it all back.
20 So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, "3This is David's spoil."

The Spoils Are Divided

21 When 4David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow * David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted * them.
22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, "Because * they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except * to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart."
23 Then David said, "You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.
24 "And who will listen to you in this matter? For 5as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike."
25 So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Behold, 6a gift for you from the spoil of 7the enemies of the LORD:
27 to those who were in 8Bethel, and to those who were in 9Ramoth of the Negev, and to those who were in 10Jattir,
28 and to those who were in 11Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in 12Eshtemoa,

1 Samuel 30:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

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, 1Sa 30:1-6; 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, 1Sa 30:7-20; the distribution of the spoil, both to those that went with him, and to those who through faintness were left behind, 1Sa 30:21-25; 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, 1Sa 30:26-31.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Genesis 14:16
  • 2. 1 Samuel 30:8
  • 3. 1 Samuel 30:26-31
  • 4. 1 Samuel 30:10
  • 5. Numbers 31:27; Joshua 22:8
  • 6. 1 Samuel 25:27
  • 7. 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 25:28
  • 8. Genesis 12:8; Joshua 7:2; Joshua 8:9; Joshua 16:1
  • 9. Joshua 19:8
  • 10. Joshua 15:48; Joshua 21:14
  • 11. Joshua 13:16; 1 Chronicles 11:44
  • 12. Joshua 15:50

Footnotes 6

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