1 Samuel 30:22

22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, "Because * they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except * to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart."

1 Samuel 30:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:22

Then answered all the wicked men, and [men] of Belial, of
those that went with David
Who were ill natured men, and of covetous dispositions, as what is called their answer shows; and it seems by that as if the two hundred men had moved that they might have their share in the spoil, or that David had given some intimation that they should:

and said, because they went not with us, we will not give, them [ought]
of the spoil that we have recovered:
which was very unreasonable not to let them have what was before their own which was recovered; and indeed it was but right they should have their share in the spoil that was taken which was of others, as will appear hereafter: but they were of opinion and were come to a resolution, they should have no more,

save to every man his wife and his children;
which was very unkind and ungenerous:

that they may lead [them] away, and depart;
but whither? Ziklag was burnt, the land of Israel they would not return unto, where they must fall a sacrifice to Saul; these men cared not where they went, so that they were rid of them, that they might not have any share with them in the spoil.

1 Samuel 30:22 In-Context

20 So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, "This is David's spoil."
21 When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them.
22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart."
23 Then David said, "You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.
24 "And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike."

Footnotes 1

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