1 Samuel 30:1

1 And it cometh to pass, in the coming in of David and his men to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites have pushed unto the south, and unto Ziklag, and smite Ziklag, and burn it with fire,

1 Samuel 30:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 30:1

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to
Ziklag, on the third day
Either from their departure from thence, when they went out with Achish, or rather from the time of their leaving Achish, and the camp of the Philistines; so long they were upon their march homewards, see ( 2 Samuel 1:1 2 Samuel 1:2 ) ; and no wonder, if it was the distance of eighty eight miles, (See Gill on 1 Samuel 29:11);

that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag;
the southern parts of the land of the Philistines, and of Judah, as appears from ( 1 Samuel 30:14 ) ; taking the opportunity of the Philistines being gone into the land of Israel, and particularly of David's absence from Ziklag, to whom they bore a grudge for his invasion, destruction, and spoil of them not long ago, see ( 1 Samuel 27:8 ) ;

and smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fire;
not that they smote the inhabitants of it, there were no men in it, and the women and children they carried captive; but they demolished the buildings in it, pulled down the houses after they had rifled them, and burnt them with fire, that David and his men might dwell there no more.

1 Samuel 30:1 In-Context

1 And it cometh to pass, in the coming in of David and his men to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites have pushed unto the south, and unto Ziklag, and smite Ziklag, and burn it with fire,

2 and they take captive the women who [are] in it; from small unto great they have not put any one to death, and they lead away, and go on their way.

3 And David cometh in -- and his men -- unto the city, and lo, burnt with fire, and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters have been taken captive!

4 And David lifteth up -- and the people who [are] with him -- their voice and weep, till that they have no power to weep.

5 And the two wives of David have been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;