1 Samuel 30:1-9

1 Two days later David and his men arrived back at Ziklag. The Amalekites had raided southern Judah and attacked Ziklag. They had burned down the town

2 and captured all the women; they had not killed anyone, but had taken everyone with them when they left.

3 When David and his men arrived, they found that the town had been burned down and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been carried away.

4 David and his men started crying and did not stop until they were completely exhausted.

5 Even David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken away. ¹

6 David was now in great trouble, because his men were all very bitter about losing their children, and they were threatening to stone him; but the Lord his God gave him courage.

7 David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod," and Abiathar brought it to him. ²

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.

1 Samuel 30:1-9 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. 30.5 1 Samuel 25.42, 43.
• 2. 30.7 1 Samuel 22.20-23.