1 Samuel 30:23-31

23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.

24 Who would listen to you in this matter? ¹For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike. ”

25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord. ”

27 It was for those in ²Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in ³Jattir,

28 in ⁴Aroer, in Siphmoth, in ⁵Eshtemoa,

29 in Racal, in the cities of ⁶the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of ⁷the Kenites,

30 in ⁸Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach,

31 in ⁹Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

1 Samuel 30:23-31 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.

Cross References

• 1. 30:24 [Num. 31:27; Josh. 22:8]
• 2. 30:27 Gen. 28:19; See Judg. 1:22-26
• 3. 30:27 Josh. 15:48
• 4. 30:28 Deut. 2:36; Josh. 13:16
• 5. 30:28 Josh. 15:50
• 6. 30:29 ch. 27:10
• 7. 30:29 See Judg. 1:16
• 8. 30:30 Judg. 1:17
• 9. 30:31 Josh. 14:13-15; Judg. 1:10; 2 Sam. 2:1-4