1 Sam. 30 The Amalekites in David’s absence spoil Ziklag, and carry away the people and his two wives captives, 1 Sam. 30:1–6. David asking counsel is encouraged by God to pursue them, 1 Sam. 30:7–10.

On the third day, to wit, after David’s departure from Achish; for Ziklag was at a great distance from the camp and place of fight, as appears from 2 Sam. 1:2; and David’s men being all footmen, could make but slow marches.

They slew not any; which was strange, considering how David dealt with them, 1 Sam. 27:9. But this must be ascribed partly to their selfish or fleshly interest; for they might reserve them, either to make sale of them for their profit, or to abuse them for their lust; or, it may be, to revenge…

Till either the humour was wholly spent, or the consideration of their calamity had made them stupid.

The people spake of stoning him, as the author of their miseries, by coming to Ziklag at first, by provoking the Amalekites to this cruelty, by his forwardness in marching away with Achish, and leaving their wives and children unguarded. In the Lord his God, i.e.

Bring me hither the ephod, and put it upon thyself, that thou mayst inquire of God according to his ordinance, Num. 27:21. See above, 1 Sam. 23:9. David was sensible of his former error in neglecting to ask counsel of God by the ephod when he came to Achish, and when he went out with Achish to the…

Before God answered more slowly and gradually, 1 Sam. 23:1, 1 Sam. 23:12, but now he answers speedily and fully at once, because the business here required more haste. So gracious is our God, that he considers even the degree of other necessities, and accommodates himself to them.

Four hundred men; a small number for such an attempt; but David was strong in faith, giving God the glory of his power and faithfulness.

They found an Egyptian, whom by his habit they guessed to be a soldier that had been engaged in that expedition. They made him drink water; partly out of humanity and compassion to a perishing creature; and partly in prudence, that by him they might learn the true state of their enemies

Which is to be understood synecdochically of one whole day, and part of two others, as the same phrase is taken Matt. 12:40, as appears from the next verse, where he saith, three days agone I fell sick, but in the Hebrew it this is the third day since I fell sick.

I am a young man of Egypt; God by his providence so ordering it, that he was not one of that cursed race of the Amalekites, who were to be utterly destroyed, but an Egyptian, who might be spared.

The Cherethites, i.e. the Philistines, as is manifest from 1 Sam. 30:16, who are so called Zeph. 2:5. And upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb: this is added by way of explication: q.d. that part of the south of Judah which belongs to Caleb’s posterity, Josh. 14:13.

For his master had told him whither they intended to go, that he might come after them as soon as he could.

Spread abroad upon all the earth; secure and careless, because they were now come almost to the borders of their own country, and the Philistines and Israelites both were otherwise engaged, and David, as they believed, with them.

From the twilight: the word signifies both the morning and evening twilight. But the latter seems here intended, partly because their eating, and drinking, and dancing was more customary and proper work for the evening than for the morning; and partly because the evening was more convenient for…

All the flocks and the herds, to wit, which the Amalekites had taken from the Philistines, or others. Before those other cattle; before those which belonged to Ziklag. This is David’s spoil, i.e.

They went forth to meet David, to congratulate the victory; which, it is probable, David had sent a messenger to acquaint them with. He saluted them; he spoke kindly to them, and did not blame them because they went no further with them.

Then answered all the wicked men; when those two hundred men required or expected a part of the spoil; and they gathered from David’s words and carriage that he intended to give it to them.

Ye shall not do so, my brethren: he useth his power and authority to overrule them; but manageth it with all sweetness, calling them brethren; not only as of the same nation and religion with him, but as his fellow soldiers.

Who will hearken unto you? what wise or just man will be of your opinion in this matter? They shall part alike; a prudent and equitable constitution, and therefore practised by the Romans, as Polybius and others note.

Partly in gratitude for their former favour to him; and partly in policy to engage their affections to him now when he apprehended Saul’s death near. The enemies of the Lord; he intimates, that though he was fled to the Philistines, yet he employed not his forces against the Israelites, as, no…

Beth-el, in Kirjath-jearim, where the ark was, 1 Sam. 10:3. South Ramoth; a city in the tribe of Simeon, Josh. 19:8; so called by way of distinction from Ramoth in Gilead, which was more northward, 1 Kings 22:12. Jattir; of which see Josh. 15:48.

Aroer; not that beyond Jordan, Num. 32:34, as many think, which was too remote from David; but another place of that name in Judah, where the rest of the places here named were; this being one of those places where David and his men were wont to haunt, as is expressed, 1 Sam. 30:31.

Or, to go; whither they used to resort in the time of Saul’s persecution, either to hide themselves in some of their territories, or to get provision from thence.