1 Samuel 30:2

2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed none of them, but carried them off, and went their way.

1 Samuel 30:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:2

And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein
There being no other to take, the men were gone with David:

they slew not any, either great or small;
that is, of the women, whether married or unmarried, old, or maidens, or children; which was very much, since David destroyed all that came within his reach, men and women, when he invaded them, ( 1 Samuel 27:9 ) ; but perhaps this was not owing to their humanity, but to their covetousness, designing to make an advantage of them by selling them for slaves; no doubt they were restrained by the providence of God:

but carried [them] away, and went on their way;
homewards with their captives.

1 Samuel 30:2 In-Context

1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negeb and on Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag, burned it down,
2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed none of them, but carried them off, and went their way.
3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept, until they had no more strength to weep.
5 David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Gk: Heb lacks [and all]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.