1 Samuel 30:1

CHAPTER XXX

While David is absent with the army of Achish, the Amalekites

invade Ziklag, and burn it with fire, and carry away captive

David's wives, and those of his men, 1, 2.

David and his men return; and, finding the desolate state of

their city, are greatly affected, 3-5.

The men mutiny, and threaten to stone David, who encourages

himself in the Lord, 6.

David inquires of the Lord, and is directed to pursue the

Amalekites, with the promise that he shall recover all, 7, 8.

He and his men begin the pursuit, but two hundred, through

fatigue are obliged to stay behind at the brook Besor, 9, 10.

They find a sick Egyptian, who directs them in their pursuit,

11-15.

David finds the Amalekites secure, feasting on the spoils they

had taken; he attacks and destroys the whole host, except four

hundred, who escape on camels, 16, 17.

The Israelites recover their wives, their families, and all

their goods, 18-20.

They come to the two hundred who were so faint as not to be

able to pursue the enemy, with whom they divide the spoil; and

this becomes a statute in Israel, 21-25.

David sends part of the spoil which he had taken to different

Jewish cities, which had suffered by the incursion of the

Amalekites; and where David and his anew had been accustomed

to resort, 26-31.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXX

Verse 1 Samuel 30:1. On the third day] This was the third day after he had left the Philistine army at Aphek. Calmet supposes that Aphek was distant from Ziklag more than thirty leagues.

The Amalekites had invaded] These were, doubtless, a travelling predatory horde, who, availing themselves of the war between the Philistines and the Israelites, plundered several unprotected towns, and among them Ziklag. It is likely they had not heard of what David did to some of their tribes, else they would have avenged themselves by slaying all they found in Ziklag.