1 Samuel 30:1

1 And when David and his men had come into Ziklag in the third day, (they learned that) men of Amalek had made assault on the south part (of Judah,) (and) in Ziklag; and (had) smitten Ziklag, and burnt it by fire. (And when David and his men had come into Ziklag on the third day, they learned that the Amalekites had made an assault on the southern part of Judah, and in Ziklag; and they had struck Ziklag, and had burned it down.)

1 Samuel 30:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:1

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 2 Samuel 1:2 ) ; 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 30:1 In-Context

1 And when David and his men had come into Ziklag in the third day, (they learned that) men of Amalek had made assault on the south part (of Judah,) (and) in Ziklag; and (had) smitten Ziklag, and burnt it by fire. (And when David and his men had come into Ziklag on the third day, they learned that the Amalekites had made an assault on the southern part of Judah, and in Ziklag; and they had struck Ziklag, and had burned it down.)
2 And they led (away) the women (as) prisoners from thence, from the least unto the most; and they had not slain any, but they led them forth with them, and went in their way. (And they took away the women as prisoners from there, from the least unto the most; and they did not kill any, but they took them away with them, and went on their way.)
3 Therefore when David and his men had come to the city, and had found it burnt with fire, and that their wives, and their sons, and daughters were led away (as) prisoners,
4 then David and the people that was with him raised [up] their voices, and wailed, till the tears failed in them.
5 And also [the] two wives of David were led away (as) prisoners, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.