1 Samuel 30:16-26

16 qui cum duxisset eum ecce illi discumbebant super faciem universae terrae comedentes et bibentes et quasi festum celebrantes diem pro cuncta praeda et spoliis quae ceperant de terra Philisthim et de terra Iuda

17 et percussit eos David a vespere usque ad vesperam alterius diei et non evasit ex eis quisquam nisi quadringenti viri adulescentes qui ascenderant camelos et fugerant

18 eruit ergo David omnia quae tulerant Amalechitae et duas uxores suas eruit

19 nec defuit quicquam a parvo usque ad magnum tam de filiis quam de filiabus et de spoliis et quaecumque rapuerant omnia reduxit David

20 et tulit universos greges et armenta et minavit ante faciem suam dixeruntque haec est praeda David

21 venit autem David ad ducentos viros qui lassi substiterant nec sequi potuerant David et residere eos iusserat in torrente Besor qui egressi sunt obviam David et populo qui erat cum eo accedens autem David ad populum salutavit eos pacifice

22 respondensque omnis vir pessimus et iniquus de viris qui ierant cum David dixit quia non venerunt nobiscum non dabimus eis quicquam de praeda quam eruimus sed sufficiat unicuique uxor sua et filii quos cum acceperint recedant

23 dixit autem David non sic facietis fratres mei de his quae tradidit Dominus nobis et custodivit nos et dedit latrunculos qui eruperant adversum nos in manu nostra

24 nec audiet vos quisquam super sermone hoc aequa enim pars erit descendentis ad proelium et remanentis ad sarcinas et similiter divident

25 et factum est hoc ex die illa et deinceps constitutum et praefinitum et quasi lex in Israhel usque ad diem hanc

26 venit ergo David in Siceleg et misit dona de praeda senioribus Iuda proximis suis dicens accipite benedictionem de praeda hostium Domini

1 Samuel 30:16-26 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.