1 Samuel 30:22-31

22 But some of the men who had gone with David were evil men, scoundrels; and they said, "They didn't go with us, so we're not giving them any of the property we've recovered. Each man can take his wife and children and leave."

23 Then David said, "No, my brothers, don't do this with the goods ADONAI has given us. He protected us, and he handed the raiding party over to us.

24 Anyhow, no one agrees with you about this. No, the share of someone who stays with the equipment will be the same as the share of someone who goes out and fights - they will share equally."

25 It has been that way from that day on; he established it as a ruling for Isra'el to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the leaders of Y'hudah who were his friends with a note, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of ADONAI."

27 He sent such gifts to those in Beit-El, to those in Ramot, to those in Yatir,

28 to those in 'Aro'er, to those in Sifmot, to those in Esht'moa,

29 to those in Rakhal, to those in Yerachme'eli, to those in the cities of the Keni,

30 to those in Hormah, to those in Kor-'Ashan, to those in 'Atakh,

31 to those in Hevron, and to all the places where David and his men had frequently visited.

1 Samuel 30:22-31 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.