1 Samuel 30:9

9 So David and his six hundred men started out, and when they arrived at Besor Brook, some of them stayed there.

1 Samuel 30:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:9

So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with him,
&c.] Encouraged by the oracle of the Lord:

and came to the brook Besor;
which Adrichomius ^F17 places in the tribe of Simeon; it is thought to be near Gaza. Aristaeus ^F18 speaks of brooks that flowed by Gaza and Ashdod, places that belonged to the Philistines; some take it to be the river of the wilderness in Amos, (See Gill on Amos 6:14):

where those that were left behind stayed:
or a part of them were left, as the Targum; all the six hundred came to this brook, but two hundred of them were left here, ( 1 Samuel 30:10 ) shows, and stayed here till the rest returned; for this is not to be understood of any that were left behind at Ziklag, for all came from thence to this brook.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 133.
F18 Hist. 72. Interpret. p. 41.

1 Samuel 30:9 In-Context

7 David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod," and Abiathar brought it to him.

8 David asked the Lord, "Shall I go after those raiders? And will I catch them?" He answered, "Go after them; you will catch them and rescue the captives."

9 So David and his six hundred men started out, and when they arrived at Besor Brook, some of them stayed there.

10 David continued on his way with four hundred men; the other two hundred men were too tired to cross the brook and so stayed behind.

11 The men with David found a young Egyptian out in the country and brought him to David. They gave him some food and water,