1 Samuel 30

spake f of stoning him. As the cause of this calamity, in leaving the city unguarded: or in provoking the Amalekites so grievously as he had done, in the slaughter of all he could find. Because the soul of the people im$ grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters.] Grief took away the use of their reason. But David encouraged himself’in Hie Lord his God.] Who had never failed him in the greatest distresses: but done great things for him, and promised to do greater.

1 Samuel 30:1

JjLND it came to pass, when David and his mat were’eome to Ziklag on the third day.* So many days’ journey it was from the camp of the Philistines to this place. (See the beginning of the next book,.ver. 2.) That the Amalekites hcttt invaded’ the south, and Ziklag; andjsmote Ziklag, and burnt it icithfire.].To revenge themselves for what David had done to them, (xxvii. 8.) which they might easily do, when he and his men were, absent; and but a small, if any, guard left in the place.

1 Samuel 30:2

And had taken the women captives that were there in: they slew. not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and Went on? their way.* Towards their, own country. This may seem strange, that. David having killed all he could meet with, and spared none, neither men nor women,, (xxvii. 9. 11.) they should not serve his people in the same kind. But though they sought revenge, yet they desired booty much more: being a poor and very covetous people; who intended to sell them for slaves, and make money of them.

1 Samuel 30:3

AndDavid and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burnt with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive. This befel David when he seemed to be in the greatest security: having escaped the fury of Saul, and also the service of the Philistines; who were likely to make Saul pay very dear for his ill usage of David. But such is the state of this world, we are often surprised with sudden unexpected troubles; and, as the proverb is, " Many things fall out between the cup and the lip." Ver. 4* And David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no power to weep.] f!or such calamities are enough to break the heart of the most courageous and undaunted spirits.

1 Samuel 30:5

And David’s two tcives xvere taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelitei. This is set down distinctly, to aggravate David’s loss. Vet. 6. And David was greatly distressed: for the people

1 Samuel 30:7

And David said to AbiatJiar the priest, >Alrim& leclis son. Bring me luther, I pray thee, the ephod.~.* From these words Petrus Cunaeus (lib. i. de Rep. Heb. cap. 14.) concludes, that the kings of Israel might make use of the ephod, as well as the high-priest: because David saith, Bring me-hither,&c. But this doth not signifyJhatfce himself meant to use it; but only that he desired it might be used for him: according to what is said of Joshua, in Numb, xxvli.21. that he should stand before Eleazar the priest, -who should inquire for him, &c. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod unto David.] From these words the same Cunceus, in an epistle of his to Caspar Barlaeus,(Epist. Ecclesiastics, 506. p. 767.) argues for his forenamed opinion, because it is not said he brought it le David, but el David; the former of which, he thinks; might have signified for his use; but this denotes, it was for him to use himself: which he endeavours to confirm from the high privilege which the king had above other men, of sitting in the -house of God, &c. But this is confuted lately by a man very learned in these matters, (John Braunius, lib. ii. deVcst. Hebr. Sacerd. cap. 20. n. 32.) who well observes (as Buxtorf also doth), that in the foregoing words David doth say, Bring the ephod, li, i. e. pro me, or mea causa, for me, or in meant gratiam, for my sake.

1 Samuel 30:8

And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop?. He inquired by Abiathar. So all the Hebrew doctors, as Buxtorf observes in his Hist. Urim. cap. 3. Shall J overtake them?] This shews it is a vain observation of the Jews, that they were not to ask two questions together: for David still continues to do so here, as he had done atKeilah: though God, they say there, had set him right in his inquiry, and taught him to do otherwise. And he answered him, Pitrsue; for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.] He answers both questions at once, and tells him also more than -he asked; that he -should Tegain all that he had lost: which, no doubt, was a mighty encouragement unto him in his pursuit. “Ver. 9. So David went, he and the six hundred men fJiat were *with him, and came to the brook Besor, ivhere those that were left behind stayed.] They that were left to look after the stuff, (ver. 24.) who were so tired, that they were not able to march any farther.

1 Samuel 30:10

So David pursued, he and four hundred men-: for two hundred abode behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. Grief, it is likely, made them neglect to take necessary refreshment before they came out. And when he had brought him down.] Who had given him security, no doubt, by his path, as he desired: and that, as I observed before, was such a sacred thing is ancient times, that all jnen relied upQn it. * Microsoft ® A COMMENTARY UPON. [chap. XXX. Behold, they tvere spread abroad upon the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of the great spoil they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.] They had laid aside their arms, and were feasting and making merry; as men are wont to do, when they have had great success in their enterprises.; Vcr. 17. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the 7iext day.] He came upon thern in the evening, when they wcro refreshing and resting themselves with mirth and jollity: being secure that no danger was near them; because the Israelites and the Philistines (among whom they thought David was) were ready to engage; so that he could no more come to revenge himself, than the Philistines could for the injuries done to them. And, it is probable David let them fall asleep, when they had eaten and drunk liberally; and at peep of day fell upon them, and hunted them until the evening, which begun the next day, And there escaped not ajnan of them, save four hundred young men, that rode upon camels.] The country of Arabia, where this people lived, abounded with camels; one sort Of which run very swiftly. They were, used also by some nations in battle: as Vegctius observes, lib.iii. do Re Militari, cap. 23. (See Stcwcchius’s Annotations on him.).

1 Samuel 30:11

And they found an Egyptian in the field. They knew him to be so by his habit: or, perhaps, they did not know whence he was, until hoenrae to himself and «told them. But finding him in the garb of a soldier, they thought he belonged to the Amalekites. \ And brought him to David.] Half dead.. \ And they gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made* him drink water.] Natural compassion might move them ta this: but they had another motive, which was the hope of snaking some discovery, by his means; where the enemies were. *

1 Samuel 30:12

And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and’ two clusters ofraisim. Did all they could to comfort him? up, and revive his spirits. And, when he had eaten> his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three daysand three nights.] Having nobody near him to look afterlum: and being so sick, he could not look after himself. This is to be understood as Matt. xii. 40. of one whole, day, and part of two others: as appears from the.next? verse, where he saith, Three days ago I fell sick. In the. Hebrew, I fell sick this third day; L e. this is the third day since I fell sick.

1 Samuel 30:13

And David said, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, lam a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because* three days ago I fell sick.] A barbarous act, to leave him there to perish, when they had camels good store for the carriage of men, as well as of their spoil,(ver. 17.) But this inhumanity cost them dear: for by this means they lost their own lives. Such is the wonderful providence of God (as Conr. Pellicanus here piously observes), which governsall the desires, and thoughts, and counsels, and works, and whatsoever is done among men, both the good and the bad.-

1 Samuel 30:14

And tve made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites.* They are the same with the Philistines. For the Arabians call “their country (as Bochartus observes) Keritha, and the Syrians call it Creth. Whose inhabitants the Hebrews call Crethi, or Crethim. And to put all out’ of doubt, the south of the Clierethites here mentioned, is, in the sixth verse explained, the land of the Philistines. Who* were excellent archers, as we may gather from xxxi. &- (See there.) And upon the coast that belongeth to Judah.] The south coast of that tribe. And upon the land of Calebs] We read no where else of* this land: which, in all probability, signifies that south part of Judah which was -given to Caleb, and which his: posterity inherited, (Josh. xiv. 13.) And we burnt Ziklag witfcfire.] With which they seem to have ended their expedition.

1 Samuel 30:15

And David said, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear wito me by the Lord, that thou tvilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into tJie hand of my master.* Who, -it is likely, had otherwise been cruelto him: and, therefore, he had no mind to serve him any longer. Besides, his service, I suppose, was no better than slavery. « < And I will bring thee down to this company.] For hf* heard them say, it is likely, where they would stay and rest themselves.

1 Samuel 30:18

And recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away; arid David rescued his two wives. Which are here particularly mentioned, because he had the greatest concern for them.

1 Samuel 30:19

And there was nothing lacking to them, neither sjnall nor great, neither son nor daughter, neither spoil, nor any thing they had taken to them. According to the word of God^(ver. G.) Vcr. 20. And David took all the flocks and the herds.] Which had been taken by the Amalckites from the Philistines, and other places.*. Which they drave before those other cattle.] His soldiers dravc them before those cattle that had been taken from Dayid and his men. And said, This is David’s spoil.] Not that he challenged it all to himself: but that it was acquired by his valour and conduct; which they now magnified, who lately spake of^toning him. For some think they sung a triumphant song, and that this was the burden of it: which they repeated at the end of every verse. Vcr. 21. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint, that they could not follow David, whom he had made also to abide at the brook Besor.] That they.might look after their stuff. And they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him.] To congratulate their happy success: and to receive their wives and.children, who had been carried captive.. And when David came unto the people, he saluted them.] He w r as glad to sec them, and inquired how they did (as it is in the margin), for he had left them very weak, s

1 Samuel 30:22

Then answered all the wicked 7nen, and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said. It is likely. David told these two hundred men, when he saluted them, that they should lose nothing by, their not being able to go along with him; -which made these men, who had.no conscience, but were only greedy of prey, to say what follows. Because they went not ivith us, we willnot give them aught ofthQ spoil which we have recovered, save to every man his ivife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.] This was a savage resolution of such as feared not God, nor regarded men: since it was not the choice of their brethren to stay behind, but mere necessity and inability to travel further.

1 Samuel 30:23

Then said David. Who still preserved his authority over the most wicked among them. Ye shall not do so, my brethreu.] He overrules them: but thought fit to do it in a friendly manner. With that which God hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand,’] As much as to say, When God hath been so good to us, we ought not to be unkind to our brethren.

1 Samuel 30:24

For who ivill hearken unto you in this matter?. No equal persons, he was confident, would be of their opinion, if the matter was referred to them. But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: their parts shall be alike.] Polybius explains the order of dividing the spoils of war, (asGrotius observes, lib.iii. de. Jure Belli ct Pacis, cap. 6. sect. 17.) some of which was allotted those who remained in the camp. But the proportions were various in several places. In some, a simple portion was given to a footman; a double to a centurion; and a treble to a horseman. In other places they varied from this: but howsoever the division was made, the commander-in-chief was allowed to take the best of the spoil to himself: as David perhaps now did: and then left the rest to be equally divided among his men. But the Talmudists say, that, in aftertimes, the king had all the royal furniture that was found in the tent of the conquered prince given unto him for his share. * f

1 Samuel 30:25

*Arid it was so, from that day fo)ward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. The equity of this law appears from hence: that by common consent these two hundred men were left behind to look after their baggage: and they were part of the same body of men, linked together in the same common society: and were hindered by mere weariness from going to fight, which otherwise they would have done; and their will was accepted for the deed; and they were in the same common danger; for if the four hundred had been routed, their enemies would soon have cut them ofF. This law may seem to have been ordained before by God himself in Numb. xxxi. Which if it were, it may be thought strange that David should not allege that law to quiet the present contention. But it is evident this was a Yery different case from that: for threescore thousand who stayed at home, had no more among them than the twelve thousand had who went to the battle, (ver. 27. of that chapter.) And what was then done w r as not ordained to be observed as a statute through all generations. This therefore was a new law, but perpetually continued to the time of the Maccabees; as appears from the second bookof their history, chap. viii. ver. 2S. 30. And Osiandcr observes,, that it pleased the Romans to do the same, as Fcstus tells us. (Sec Josh. xxii. 8.) But the most ancient custom among the Romans was (as Godcscalcus Stewechius shews at large, upon Vegctius dc Re Militari, lib. ii. cap..7.) to burn part of the spoils, as an offering to. their “C7” CHAP. XXX.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. ^ods; and for the rest, sometimes the soldiers were permitted to keep what every man had got to himself: and sometimes, if the necessities of the commonwealth required, they were all brought to the quaestor, to be put into the public treasury. Out of those which every man kept to himself, they were wont, when they came home, to have some of them upon the posts of the gates to their houses: which it was lawful to remove when a house was sold to another man.

1 Samuel 30:26

And when David came to Ziilag, he sent of the spoil to the elders ofJudah, even to his friends. By this it seems plain, that he had reserved some part of the spoil to himself: out of which he made presents to his friends: some of which were of the best quality in the tribe of Judah’. • Saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.] In the Hebrew, a blessing for you, See. So he calls the present, because it was a token that he wished all prosperity to them: who had been kind to him in his banishment, and helped to maintain and protect him: and whom he was desirous still to oblige, that they might more readily receive him, when he had a right to take possession of the kingdom.

1 Samuel 30:27

And to them which were in Beth-el. This seems to be the same place with’ that which is called Baalath and Kirjath-baal, Josh. xv. 9. 60. And to them which ivere in South llamoth.] A place in the tribe of Simeon, (Josh. xix. 8.) called Ramotk in the south, to distinguish it from Ramoth-Gilcad, which lay northward. By which it appears he had other friends,” who sometimes gave him shelter, or subsistence, besides those in his own tribe. And to them which were in Jattir.] A town in the mountainous part of the tribe of Judah, (Josh. xv. 48.)

1 Samuel 30:28

And to them that were in Aroer, &c. Not that on the other side Jordan, (mentioned in Numb.xxxii.) but some other place, in the tribe of Judah, or some neighbouring tribe, where the other places here mentioned were: for we no where read, that David ever fled, during Saul’s persecution, into the country beyond Jordan.

1 Samuel 30:29

, And to them ivhich were in llachal, and to them ivhich were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites. These people lay on the south of Judah, (xxvii. 10.) where, it is likely, llachal also was. And to them that were in the cities of the Kenites.] Who were near to the Jerahmeelites, it appears from the forenamed place.

1 Samuel 30:30

And to those that were in Hormah. This was a city in the tribe of Judah, (Josh, xv, 30.) afterward given unto the tribe of Simeon, (Josh. xix. 4.) And to them that were in Chor-ashan, and to them that were in Athach.] It is probable that these two places were also in the same tribe.

1 Samuel 30:31

And to them which were in Hebron. Which was certainly a city of Judah: (Josh. xv. 54.) where David was first made king, and reigned over that tribe, (2 Sam. ii. 1, 2, &c.) A nd to all the places ivhere David and his men were ivont to liaunt.] Either to lurk among them/or to getprovisions, or intelligence from them.