301 Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day , that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag , and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire ; 2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great , without killing anyone , and carried them off and went their way . 3 When David and his men came to the city , behold , it was burned with fire , and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive . 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until e there was no strength in them to weep . 5 Now David's two wives had been taken captive , Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite . 6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered , each one because of his sons and his daughters . But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God .
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest , the son of Ahimelech , "Please bring me the ephod ." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David . 8 David inquired of the Lord , saying , " Shall I pursue this band ? Shall I overtake them?" And He said to him, "Pursue , for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all." 9 So David went , he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor , where those left behind remained . 10 But David pursued , he and four hundred men , for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind. 11 Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David , and gave him bread and he ate , and they provided him water to drink . 12 They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins , and he ate ; then his spirit revived . For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights . 13 David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" And he said , "I am a young man of Egypt , a servant of an Amalekite ; and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago. 14 "We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites , and on that which belongs to Judah , and on the Negev of Caleb , and we burned Ziklag with fire ." 15 Then David said to him, "Will you bring me down to this band ?" And he said , "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master , and I will bring you down to this band ." 16 When he had brought him down , behold , they were spread over all the land , eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah . 17 David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day ; and not a man of them escaped , except e four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:1-17
Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:1-6
(Read 1 Samuel 30:1-6)
When we go abroad in the way of our duty, we may comfortably hope that God will take care of our families in our absence, but not otherwise. If, when we come off a journey, we find our abode in peace, and not laid waste, as David here found his, let the Lord be praised for it. David's men murmured against him. Great faith must expect such severe trials. But, observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before he was raised to the throne. When things are at the worst with the church and people of God, then they begin to mend. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. His men fretted at their loss, the soul of the people was bitter; their own discontent and impatience added to the affliction and misery. But David bore it better, though he had more reason than any of them to lament it. They gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces to work; and while they dispirited each other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Those who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from him in the worst times.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:7-15
(Read 1 Samuel 30:7-15)
If in all our ways, even when, as in this case, there can be no doubt they are just, we acknowledge God, we may expect that he will direct our steps, as he did those of David. David, in tenderness to his men, would by no means urge them beyond their strength. The Son of David thus considers the frames of his followers, who are not all alike strong and vigorous in their spiritual pursuits and conflicts; but, where we are weak, there he is kind; nay more, there he is strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9,10. A poor Egyptian lad, scarcely alive, is made the means of a great deal of good to David. Justly did Providence make this poor servant, who was basely used by his master, an instrument in the destruction of the Amalekites; for God hears the cry of the oppressed. Those are unworthy the name of true Israelites, who shut up their compassion from persons in distress. We should neither do an injury nor deny a kindness to any man; some time or other it may be in the power of the lowest to return a kindness or an injury.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 30:16-20
(Read 1 Samuel 30:16-20)
Sinners are nearest to ruin, when they cry, Peace and safety, and put the evil day far from them. Nor does any thing give our spiritual enemies more advantage than sensuality and indulgence. Eating and drinking, and dancing, have been the soft and pleasant way in which many have gone down to the congregation of the dead. The spoil was recovered, and brought off; nothing was lost, but a great deal gained.